House Gate?

11102008

Remember back to the first week in September, when it seemed like every day there was a new “gate”? Actually, believe it or not, “Troopergate” used to be known as “Palingate” in Alaska because we naively believed there was only one. Oh, how innocent we were.

Since that long ago time, our naivete has fallen away, and “gates” have been springing up like mushrooms all over Alaska: Troopergate, babygate, bookgate, pastorgate…the list seemed endless. Add to that a whole host of more recent and harder to say “gates” – Leaving-your-town-in-debt-gate, collecting-per-diem-while-living-at-home-gate, charging-victims-for-rape-kits-gate, trying-to-rid-the-world-of-wolves-and-polar-bears-gate, and we’ve been busy people. We’ve been focusing on John McCain’s I-didn’t-vet-my-running-mate-so-I’m-going-te-let-everyone-else-do-it-gate.

But now, a brand new “gate” surfaces. I present “House Gate”. There will be more digging on this one in the days to come, but here’s what we know now.

Six months before Palin stepped down as mayor in October 2002, the city awarded nearly a half-million-dollar contract to design the biggest project in Wasilla history to Kumin Associates. Blase Burkhart was the Kumin architect on the job—the son of Roy Burkhart, who is frequently described as a “mentor” of Palin and was head of the local Republican Party (his wife, June, who also advised Palin, is the national committeewoman). Asked if the contract was a favor, Roy Burkhart, who contributed to her campaign in the same time frame that his son got the contract, said: “I really don’t know.” Palin then named Blase Burkhart to a seven-member builder-selection committee that picked Howdie Inc., a mostly residential contractor owned at the time by Howard Nugent. Formally awarded the contract a couple of weeks after Palin left office, Nugent has donated $4,000 to Palin campaigns. Two competitors protested the process that led to Nugent’s contract. Burkhart and Nugent had done at least one project together before the complex—and have done several since.

A list of subcontractors on the job, obtained by the Voice, includes many with Palin ties. One was Spenard Builders Supply, the state’s leading supplier of wood, floor, roof, and other “pre-engineered components.” In addition to being a sponsor of Todd Palin’s snow-machine team that has earned tens of thousands for the Palin family, Spenard hired Sarah Palin to do a statewide television commercial in 2004. When the Palins began building a new family home off Lake Lucille in 2002—at the same time that Palin was running for lieutenant governor and in her final months as mayor—Spenard supplied the materials, according to Antoine Bricks, who works in its Wasilla office. Spenard actually filed a notice “of its right to assert a lien” on the deed for the Palin property after contracting for labor and materials for the site. Spenard’s name has popped up in the trial of Senator Stevens—it worked on the house that is at the center of the VECO scandal as well.

Todd Palin told Fox News that he built the two-story, 3,450-square-foot, four-bedroom, four-bath, wood house himself, with the help of contractors he described as “buddies.” As mayor, Sarah Palin blocked an effort to require the filing of building permits in the wide-open city, and there is no public record of who the “buddies” were. The house was built very near the complex, on a site whose city purchase led to years of unsuccessful litigation and, now, $1.3 million in additional costs, with a law firm that’s also donated to Palin collecting costly fees from the city.

Dorwin and Joanne Smith, the principals of complex subcontractor DJ Excavation & Development, have donated $7,100 to Palin and her allied candidate Charlie Fannon (Joanne is a Palin appointee on the state Board of Nursing). Sheldon Ewing, who owns another complex subcontractor, Weld Air, has donated $1,300, and PN&D, an engineering firm on the complex, has contributed $699.

Ewing was one of the few sports-complex contractors, aside from Spenard, willing to address the question of whether he worked on the house as well, but he had little to say: “I doubt that it occurred, but if it did indirectly, how would I know anyhow?” The odd timing of Palin’s house construction—it was completed two months before she left City Hall and while she and Todd Palin were campaigning statewide for the first time—raises questions, especially considering its synergy with the complex.

So Todd Palin says he built his lakeside home with the help of some “buddies” who were also building contractors. First of all, this alone isn’t as unusual as it might sound to those in the Lower 48. I personally know at least 4 people who have build houses with the assistance of “buddies” who were contractors. Alaska is a very do-it-yourself kind of state. Just as it isn’t really that unusual to be a pilot and own a small plane, or a snowmachine, or to go moose hunting. However, that said, we’re talking about the Palins.

Were this something that had been brought up as a stand-alone piece of evidence for a corruption investigation of a squeaky clean governor, I might never have thought it worth digging into. But usually, once you’ve established something is an onion, it doesn’t matter how many layers you peel away, it’s still an onion. And once you’ve established that someone abuses a position of power for self-gain (which we just did when the Branchflower Troopergate report was released), you can pretty well imagine that no matter how many layers you peel away, you’re likely to find more of the same.

Just as my first reaction with Palin’s and Ted Stevens’ “connection” to Spenard Builders Supply was to dare the Village Voice to find anyone who built a house in Alaska who DIDN”T have a connection with Spenard Builders Supply, we should not dismiss it too hastily. Patterns are patterns, and onions are onions. Nothing in Alaska stays hidden for long these days.

Todd Palin’s interview on Fox. He talks about building the house at minute 2:00.

Actions

Information

282 responses

11102008

foofighter(17:51:55) :

Issue: During the joint judiciary committee meeting yesterday, special investigator Steve Branchflower mentioned the need to supoena Murlene Wilkes, the owner of Harbor Adjustors, who has a contract with the State of Alaska to process claims for workers compensation.

Branchflower said there appears to have been some pressure put on the company from the governor’s office to deny Trooper Wooten’s workers compensation claim. The admission came from an employee of Harbor Adjustors, who apparently refused to go along with the pressure to deny the claim.

Fact: This is an email I received on August 18:

Item that may be of small interest to you, the ADN has had it for a week and done zero with it.

Officer Wooten had a workers comp claim on a back injury that went through Harbor Adjustors (Murlene Wilkes). Skinny is that the Gov’s office advised his claim should be denied.

Gave the claim office photos of the officer on a snowmachine (undated/Palin-family taken shots)

HA handed it over to legal to handle (Murlene didn’t want to get in the middle of what was obviously something personal, and as her only source of income is with a vindictive State gov contract, doesn’t want to come out on this issue).

End of day, Wooden got pennies on the dollar for his claim, they wouldn’t even pick up for the chiropractor.

11102008

foofighter(17:53:48) :

that was from Andrew Halcro’s blog on Sept 13.

Murlene Wilkes is claiming the report says she never spoke with Todd Palin or Sarah Palin, which is patently untrue. The report says no such thing and she claims Johanna Grasso is a disgruntled ex employee. yet before she was questioned Wilkes made no mention that she did receive a phone call from someone in state govt about Wooten’s workers comp claim.

11102008

kas (from Oregon)(17:55:28) :

Hardly any time to catch our breath. Great work AKM!! Once again on watch for the shoe to drop (it’s like an Emelda Marcos show shower).

OMG! Keep up the good work figuring this out. It could be honest and above board, but given their track record it definitely needs more digging. We’re back in the lower 48 now, but we lived in AK for 5 years and we know folks who built their own homes with some help from contractor buddies, and our old neighbor was a pilot who owned his own plane. I think we were the only ones who never went moose hunting and didn’t own snow machines LOL!

BTW – great job Juneau! I am so impressed with Alaskans – you all rock!!

I just feel this is bad and nefarious but it is too darn complicated to understand! How about a diagram? I am a business dummy and it sounds as if it so much business is intercommected up there that it’s hard not to cross lines! Proud of the Supreme Court and the mud-puppy tenacity! Thank you all! Now, someone please understand this house stuff!

I tried to watch the video till the end but having to look and listen to Greta Van Stupid and First Dude just got to me at about 1:37…. Just couldn’t bring myself to watch…..

Keep up the good work AKM and definitely pass this on to Keith and Rachel.

11102008

Sauerkraut aka Pity Party Palin(18:03:30) :

ut oh… while appearances can be deceiving, you have elequently pointed out that an onion peeled away sometimes reveals a stink.

And, in the case of the Palins… the stink is turning into a stench.

However, from what I read thus far, there is only conjecture about this house. A big house. 3400 square feet is not small. He’d need a whole bunch of “buddies” to properly build such a structure but it would take some time. Surely someone had to take a picture.

Perhaps some other people recall the names on the sides of the trucks on the job sight. It’s in a cold region, so it must have concrete – either as slab or cellar – so some company must have trucked it in. Who paid for the concrete?

And the other materials… who paid for those materials? Whose name(s) appear on the invoices?

There are federal prohibitions to providing work for free to elected officials.

Drop a dime, mudflats. Drop that dime.

11102008

Lori W.(18:09:59) :

There is a long blog on dailykos about the Palin’s house, the next nail in coffin (hoping). It IS a tangled web, and I think it will take some opening up (speaking) from the people in Wasilla (best hope is from the people who LOST the contract for Hockey ring). I actually know someone in Wasilla (will not say who or how), and they love Sarah and would never talk.
Timeline also off for Todd to have built it, as he was not in town for most of the construction time. Not sure yet if digging with turn up anything juicy, suspect so.

Wow. It just keeps on coming.
I am too tired to keep up with you puppies, tonight. Need to take my nap while I wait for SNL to come on. Will check with y’all again in the morning…

unrelated, but==
If SWWNBN is actually going to appear on SNL in 2 weeks, can we all agree NOT to watch that particular night (or view any excerpts at NBC.com) and pass the same word to all others? If there suddenly AREN’T millions of hits, they might get the message that it’s Tina Fey we all want to see, not SWWNBN.

Hmmmm….. although my eyes are burning from the peeling, isn’t Wasilla a small town? How many contractors are available to build? Not that I wouldn’t love a steady stream of gates for Governor Dumb as a Stump….

I hope that The First Dude has all of his receipts for materials and labor regarding the building of that lovely home on the lake…..

More importantly, there is precious little time left before the election for all of the “gates” to fully rear their ugly heads. WE in the lower 48 don’t want her – and it’s beginning to look like you folks are not going to be thrilled to have the First Family back either…….

I have read most of the posts here since I first found the website back in the end of August – and have thoroughly enjoyed the wit, humor, intelligence, and grace of all of you mudpuppies! And to AKmudracker – you have provided an invaluable service to the lower 48 and far beyond – one that is much appreciated.

I haven’t voted in a long time – this year not only will I vote – I have also educated my adult daughters and their families about the importance of voting for the candidate with a conscience.

It’s just gets worse and worse with her. Thanks again for keeping us updated!

11102008

Lara(18:19:41) :

Question: I have a hard time following this. Can someone put together the time line.
When did building of house start?
When was the house completed?
What was Todd during between those two dates.

Also, building a house where I live is a big committment. It’s not something you do in your spare time. You have to decide to devote a certain/significaint amount of time to it – in the range of averaging hours/day. Is there some reason this isn’t an issue in Alaska. I can’t think of what it would be, but there’s lots of stuff I don’t think of.

11102008

kas (from Oregon)(18:20:11) :

even with the typo! shoe shower… oh well — glad it made you laugh

11102008

Aussie Puck Mule Hussein(18:22:38) :

Palin defiant after probe jolts McCain campaign

Asked by a reporter in Pennsylvania if the charges were true, Palin replied: “No, and if you read the report you will see that there was nothing unlawful or unethical about it. You have to read the report.”

the department of justice is dragging the kid into court in shackles — no kidding. he’s clearly a danger to everyone.

here’s a quote from the article:

The Justice Department seems to be setting one of its amazing new rules. When a Republican political figure is damaged in her expectation of being elected to office, it is telling us, that’s a felony. And why is that the case here? Because the hacker helped establish something important: Sarah Palin has been systematically violating the Open Records Act. As David Corn has noted at Mother Jones, Palin relied heavily on private email accounts for improper purposes. As governor of Alaska, she was obligated to maintain as public records her communications with respect to her discharge of official duties. Palin skirted this obligation by turning to private email accounts for government related dealings. In fact, the hacker in question helped flush out Palin’s violations. The hacker also helped establish a motive for the illegal conduct: Palin regularly involved her husband in official business, and it’s easy to understand why she did not want to leave behind evidence of her husband’s involvement.

My word I feel like I am on such a down load with all of Palin’s Mess. My Word! Do we have enough time to review all of her crap. WOW

11102008

Proud Community OrganizerWA(18:28:23) :

AKM Keep digging! I said a week ago that there is an itch between my shoulder blades that just won’t go away. There is something about this woman that we all keep missing that will be far worse than anything to date.

Don’t know why, I think it is just a gut thing. The center of that onion is going to be putrid and rotten.

11102008

Halcrow(18:30:46) :

AKM, I believe that the long-suffering taxpayers of Alaska will be shedding tears of rage and tears of grief by the time this particular onion is reconstructed.

Tears of rage, tears of grief
Must I always be the thief?
Come to me now, you know
We’re so low, and life is brief.

Joan Baez.

11102008

OFFICIALLY(18:31:00) :

Ohh; you are on the right track on this one.

It may be best to call in the FEDS now; if they are not already investigating this one.

None the less your getting down to the criminal layer; you know the layer that leads to jail time for some people.

Martha Stewart went to jail for ‘covering up’ the truth; not for what was done on her behalf.

Press on Mudflat.

11102008

Darcy(18:32:14) :

OT-
This video is worth watching, to see our smart, pretty, shiny ticket behind-the-scenes. A bit long (almost 15 min), but most definitely worth your time. Because sometimes you need another shot of hope (god, I’m corny, sorry). And stay tuned for the bloopers at the end, it’s almost the best part.

Obama/Biden 08/12

11102008

Aussie Puck Mule Hussein(18:32:30) :

OFFICIALLY (18:31:00) :

I had a feeling you’d be pleased.😉

11102008

drew from little ol texas(18:33:36) :

Fermalady,

I spent my entire life in construction and owned my General Contractor Business specializing in Commercial interiors for 13 years.

This scam is quite easy to pull off, and quite easy to get caught at also.

I would imagine this scam would be considered childs play in an area as vast as AK.

It goes like this: The contractors that get awarded the Sports Complex contract give kickbacks to the people that have control of awarding the contracts (read palin).

Ted Stevens, Vetco, et,el know a lot about this!

The reason it is easy to get caught at this and the reason that I said it should be even easier to get caught in a place like Ak., is because in a place like wasilla everybody knows everybody elses business.

The folks up there will know the story of who built Palins house and it should not be to hard to find out who furnished the materials.

People will have photos of the job during construction that more than likely will show vehicles with signage on them in the background and people on the jobsite.

Another good place to check would be the contractors and suppliers that lost there bids on the sports complex.

A material supplier that was involved in Teds scam supplied materials to Palins house. (I’m not saying they did it illegally, just that they have a history.

Time cards, delivery tickets, work orders will be all over town in companys records that will show ork done and/or materials delivered to Palins house. If it was part of the sports complex project, they may be coded to avoid referencing Palins house, but they will be there.

As McIknowhowtoselectaVP sez “I know how to do this”, I know how it’s done” “I’m not going to say that I’ve done it” , But “I know how to do it” “My Friends”, I’m not going to repeat all this 3 times like johnny boy does. but if you want some more of my clues, let me know.

btw, County Courthouse will have on record any Mecanics Liens that would have been filed for non payment of any work and/or materials related to the property.

IRS returns should show any “Gifts of labor and/or materials” provided to the Palin’s regarding the house, etc…

Property search records could prove interesting as I understand that the Palin house property is very close to the sports complex. Furthermore the land dispute that the complex sits on involves another piece of property that sits nearby.

Earlier today I sent a e-mail to National Enquirer regarding this “hot new gate”

Any folks up there that have photos and/or good info (i.e. company bookkeepers might want to run some copies of some interesting paperwork) might want to get in front of this for the big bucks !!

I got a feeling that Sara’s ear mark days might be geting a little thin!!

I bet the folks that were involved in your Uncle Teds mess know a whole lot about the Wasilla Construction Industry !!

Man, I love Karma !!

11102008

Deuce2 aka: AXE DIESEL HUSSEIN(18:33:49) :

AKM: Please slow down a little. Oh never mind. I’ll catch
up reading the posts later.

What still confuses me is her naivete that all of this wouldn’t be discovered.
What unbelievable ignorance.

11102008

Sauerkraut aka Pity Party Palin(18:45:38) :

“”

There ya go… If you know which year(s) this house was built – again, it must have taken them a few months to do a house of this size working on it full-time; it would have taken even longer part-time – then a place to look is Todd Palin’s tax filings for that/those year(s). I don’t recall seeing anything in the more recent filings. Did she release any tax records for prior years?

Time for the Obama campaign to make an issue of this and to ask Sarah Palin to clear it up by releasing all the tax records for those years… in the meantime, everyone needs to start calling the IRS. This appears to be the 2nd instance of the Palins appearing to engage in tax evasion. I know not paying taxes is part of the liberatarian mantra, but real patriots like most of us pay our share of the taxes required to be paid. Why should that stinkbug family be any different?

11102008

Sauerkraut aka Pity Party Palin(18:46:19) :

whooops… forgot to paste in the quote from Tex:

“IRS returns should show any “Gifts of labor and/or materials” provided to the Palin’s regarding the house, etc…”

11102008

Sauerkraut aka Pity Party Palin(18:50:12) :

Excellent job, Ripley!!! Good old Governor Rowland.

And there’s Christopher Shays, a big-time McCain ass-kisser being quoted. Think he’ll take a similar honorable stance with respect to Sarah Palin??

“On Monday, fourth district Representative Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) called for the governor to resign, citing improper behavior and character flaws as the sources of Rowland’s political problems. “We all make mistakes,” Shays said. “We all have a right to ask for forgiveness. I was prepared to forgive John [Rowland] and give him more time, but I am not prepared to stand by a governor, even a friend, who has done wrong, lied about it, and then refused to account for his actions.” Shays emphasized the loss of public trust “and the lack of desire on behalf of this governor to win back the public’s trust” rather than illegal conduct as the main reason Rowland should step down.”

11102008

texas tom(18:52:00) :

this is what happens when you are theocrat.

11102008

wired hussein differently(18:53:39) :

You know, all this graft, corruption, cronyism, vindictiveness and rugged individualist frontier gonna built this little ol’ trapper shack with a couple buddies crap wouldn’t be quite so hard to take if it weren’t for the fact of MY TAX DOLLARS being funneled in great quantity by the Corrupt Bastards (and Bastardettes) Club into Alaska for lo these many years.

Colin Powell’s testimonial to Uncle Ted’s sterling character notwithstanding, the whole crew– Ted, Don and Sarah, should be hounded (or maybe just voted) out of office. Two indicted and the other well on her way. WTF Alaska?

(Looks like Lisa’s keeping a low profile, as well she might.)

11102008

OFFICIALLY(19:01:05) :

Aussie Puck Mule Hussein:

Pleased? Yes, with those who pursue truth………I also maybe have a weird sense of humor……….”the most (unintentionally) hilarious part of the whole saga. In the run-up to Alaska’s 2008 Police Memorial Day event, Monegan visited Palin in Anchorage and brought along an official portrait of a state trooper in uniform, saluting in front of the police memorial in Anchorage, for Palin to sign and present at the event. The trooper? Mike Wooten.”

He built a house with a little help from his friends…just one more thing they did in addition to the daily activities associated with running a household with FOUR YOUNG CHILDREN (apprx. ages 12, 11, 9, and 2). Seriously, I just want to know who was with these children while their parents worked two or three jobs between them, ran for the next office, built homes the pioneer way, competed in snowmachine racing, hunted for moose…etc. It is clear to me who comes FIRST, and it ain’t COUNTRY or the kids.
I would BETCHA my waning 401K that the guys over at the sports complex moseyed on over quite regularly to work on this little side project ALSO.

11102008

ds55(19:04:51) :

Alaskan citizens… Recall Sarah Palin.

It requires signatures of just 10% of registered voters from the last general election to recall her.

I’m not sure that this is big enough to be a “Gate” as all politicians try their best to give their friends positions of power and ways to earn money. In fact, most staffers and ghostwriters for partisan pundits are friends of family of the consultants and politicians working on the campaigns. In a small town, it’s hardly surprising that the most powerful politician around will try and squeeze her friends on boards and make sure they get sweetheart deals.

I mean just look at Bush, Cheney and Halliburton. Their friends received a blank, no bid check to run the logistics of the Iraq War and despite all the issues, mistakes and overcharging the government by tens of millions of dollars, the President and the VP have made sure that their position is unassailable.

It’s not right. It’s morally and ethically conflicting if the politician’s friends are not objectively the best at doing a particular job or haven’t truly the only game in town long before the politician came into power. But it is the modus operandi of all politics today.

11102008

karen(19:10:13) :

I wish I could be up there with you guys, I would be digging & digging until I talked to every worker that worked on that house, & then I’d be protesting until I got the truth, I’ve got the money to fly up, the only trouble is my heart condition won’t let me, so I will do the only thing I know to do, which has proven to be the smartest thing in my life to do, I will pray. I will pray for all of you. Now, get started LOL

11102008

asianHusseingrrlMN(19:11:54) :

With all the gating going on, how DOES Sarah manage to keep up the vitriol?

@Lana, KY: I don’t think it’s naivete on Palin’s part. I think she either truly believes she did nothing wrong or she is just used to charming her way out of the situation.

11102008

Aussie Puck Mule Hussein(19:13:29) :

@Darcy (18:32:14) :

OT-
This video is worth watching, to see our smart, pretty, shiny ticket behind-the-scenes. A bit long (almost 15 min), but most definitely worth your time. Because sometimes you need another shot of hope (god, I’m corny, sorry). And stay tuned for the bloopers at the end, it’s almost the best part.

Obama/Biden 08/12

**************************

“smart, pretty, shiny ticket” …… correct on all counts.

Thank you so much for posting this inspiring mini-documentary.

11102008

Sally(19:14:58) :

Who ever wrote that article? Great work. I hope you are going to get it to the CNN and MSNBC, etc. The rest of the country needs to hear this stuff.

Obama/Biden 08

11102008

Aussie Puck Mule Hussein(19:17:56) :

@ds55 (19:04:51) :

Alaskan citizens… Recall Sarah Palin.

It requires signatures of just 10% of registered voters from the last general election to recall her.

SNL is a rerun tonight. Michael Phelps hosting, according to the ad that just ran.

11102008

rpa(19:24:55) :

LOL…great minds thinking alike. I posted a blog entry on a HuffPo article this afternoon that the next chapters in the Palin saga would be housegate (as you have described) and taxgate, the failure to report as taxable income all the Palin family travel paid by the state.

The cost of the house would be VERY easy to bury in the cost for the ice rink project. I have been an architect and builder for the past 30 years and have seen many of the tricks of the trade. If the buddies who helped build the house were also involved in the ice rink, it’s a no brainer.

11102008

Shikago aka Gary Hussein Shikago(19:25:17) :

Jeeez you guys. AKM this is just craptastic. Unbloodyreal, SP is the gift that keeps on given.

What amazes me is what an absolutely horrible politician Sarah is. She either has no idea that the things she is doing are unethical (which appears to be at least part of the problem based on Monegen’s testimony) or she simply thinks she can charm her way out of everything, so none of the rules apply to her or her family. It’s not just the ethics stuff, either. She misses exceptional opportunities to score political points, a rookie mistake for sure. Examples: Missing the opportunity to appear to be human during Biden’s emotional moment during the debate. Instead she was a tone-deaf messenger for McCain who was totally oblivious to her surroundings. Second example, the opportunity to show some personal integrity by 1.) not saying the inflammatory things printed in the speeches she memorizes, and 2.) shutting down the crazy in her rallies immediately when it happens. Imagine how much better she could make herself look, even though she clearly does not naturally have these admirable qualities. Good politicians can at least fake being good people. She just doesn’t have that down yet.

DeMo.
You can’t return it, because it was already “re-gifted” from the state of Alaska.

11102008

Taupe Armageddon Palin(19:29:36) :

Alaska — you have fans in Philly! The ice princess (after Cindy McLame) got booed at the Flyers game tonight .. just as predicted. Video here:

11102008

kas (from Oregon)(19:33:16) :

Great Job everyone. This Oregonian is walking Marty the Pug and calling it an early night. Thanks for the links (Kos…accidental McCain meeting at Starbucks is worth the reading.. funny and sad at the same time.)

If you haven’t watched the Wandering McCain video… it is a MUST… just make sure you aren’t drinking coffee or you’ll be wiping it off the screen after laughing out loud.

Looks like I’ll have to go back tomorrow to study up on the petition process. Or maybe us contiguous states-types aren’t readily allowed access at this point?

Okay, fine. I’ll just get my info right here. No problem. 😉

11102008

copybook realist(19:33:40) :

Hey all..love you guys

one of my republican brothers called tonight. We had a political discussion. He is sick about Palin and used to believe in McCain.
Still he has a 60’s distrust of the democratic party…when he believes that the base was Marxist. ??? Anyone have an answer to that?

Anyways…I think that I turned him. He will most likely vote for Obama. I told him to go to OB’s website and look through Obama’s stand on the issues himself. I also told him that I believe that Obama understand that we need a healthy Republican party and that the problem now is that the republican is dying in a religious right acid soil.

It is too bad that he will be voting in San Francisco…still there are more of him out there!

I

11102008

ira2(19:34:11) :

K, now. The building permit issue aside, how about the official inspections? Does Alaska require intermediate inspections (during the building process) of the construction itself and details like the electric installations, etc., as well as an official “final inspection”? If so (and I can’t imagine that these regulations don’t apply in Alaska), the professionals used for structural and utility construction/installation would have to be listed in those inspection reports, as far as I know. Whether they got paid for it or just “donated” their work shouldn’t matter.

Unless Wasilla, Alaska, freely allows major construction by unqualified people “like you and me”, professionals with a license and bond and insurance have to have been connected with the construction of the Palins’ house and you should be able to find them listed in the paperwork of the building department.
I doubt that suppliers of building materials are listed in the individual building department files, unless there’s some kind of local concern about one kind or other of material, and a name/company connected with what was used in the construction is required.

11102008

Intrigued(19:34:47) :

Sorry, Ripley, but you’re a latecomer. Palin’s First Dood problem was discussed by some of us way back when Sue and Anne McKinney were posting about Babygate.

The Palins’ waterfront property is incredible, but that is one ugly abode!

11102008

Susan (Lower 48, TN)(19:39:58) :

Alrighty, was able to get to site this time. In order for the Election Division to call a special election (where the vote for recall would take place), here are the ingredients:

In addition to the deposit [$100], the application must include:

1. the name and office of the person to be recalled;
2. the grounds for recall described in particular in a statement of not more than 200 words;
3. the designation, names, signatures, mailing addresses, and numerical identifiers of three prime sponsors with a statement saying they are the recall committee representing all sponsors of the recall. They must be properly registered voters.
4. the printed name, signature, addresses, and a numerical identifier of not fewer than 100 properly registered voters who will serve as sponsors. Their names must be attached to the application statement. The three recall committee sponsors must also sign as a qualified registered voter on the signature page.
(Note: Each page of signatures must include a statement saying that the sponsors are qualified voters who signed the application with the name and office of the person to be recalled and the statement of grounds for recall attached.)
5. the printed name, signature, addresses, and a numerical identifier of qualified voters equal in number to 10% of those who voted in the preceding general election in the state or in the senate or house district of the official sought to be recalled. [Ref. AS 15.45.500]

11102008

asianHusseingrrlMN(19:40:09) :

Yeah, damn those socialist progressive Democrats who want healthcare, education, equality, etc., for all. What a horrifying vision of the world.

Said with tongue firmly planted in cheek as Rome continues to burn around me under the watchful eyes of the ‘conservative’ Republicans.

11102008

Aussie Puck Mule Hussein(19:45:30) :

TROLL ‘INTRIGUED’ …. this crap has already been dealt with. Move on!

Lulu (06:06:09) :

@Intrigued. Can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or not, with your comments at 0:56:21. But if you read the link kindly provided by Desert Islander at 23:16:40, you will see that it totally IS debunked. “Left-wing critics of the New Party, such as supporters of the Green Party, argued that the New Party was merely a pressure group on the fringes of the Democratic Party, rather than a genuinely new political party.”

So, NJM and Intrigued et all, it wasn’t even a real party, much less a socialist party. It was part of the fringe of the hard left of the Democratic party. Obama ran unopposed in 1996 so every group on the south side of Chicago supported him. NJM, please give that Daily Kos link to your friend!

But please tell your friend that if he is afraid of socialism, he should write to the GOP ASAP as they are promoting socializing major aspects of our banking system currently.

11102008

karen marie(19:48:20) :

And let’s not forget la palin and the mining initiative:

For months, the confrontation mounted, a face-off that arguably held in the balance the fates of two of Alaska’s biggest industries. On one side were companies hoping to open Pebble Mine at a huge gold and copper reserve adjacent to one of the world’s largest salmon runs, Bristol Bay. On the other side were fishermen and environmentalists pushing a referendum that would make it harder for the mine to open.
[snip]
Alaska law forbids state officials from using state resources to advocate on ballot initiatives.

Then, six days before the Aug. 26 vote, with the race looking close, Palin broke her silence. Asked about the initiative at a news conference, she invoked “personal privilege” to give an opinion. “Let me take my governor’s hat off for just a minute here and tell you, personally, Prop. 4 — I vote no on that,” she said.
[snip]
Palin’s comments rocked the contest. Within a day, the pro-mining coalition fighting the referendum had placed full-page ads with a picture of the governor and the word “NO.” The initiative went down to defeat, with 57 percent of voters rejecting it.
[snip]
The state ethics panel is examining whether her comments violated the law against state advocacy on ballot measures; it had already ruled that a state Web site was improperly slanted toward mining interests.
[snip]
Fishing employs more people than any other Alaska industry — 12,000 mostly seasonal jobs in Bristol Bay alone, compared with 5,500 mining jobs statewide. But the mining industry has more lobbying clout. In the referendum fight, the pro-mining coalition easily outspent its opposition.

Mining interests have courted Palin since her inauguration. Northern Dynasty contributed to her inaugural fund, and other mining companies have offered gifts and paid travel expenses for Palin’s husband to go on fact-finding trips.
[snip]
Political strategist Danny Consenstein, a leader of the pro-initiative team, said he suspected that Palin eventually came out against the initiative to maintain her Republican standing in a state where the party has long supported the use of natural resources.

“This is kind of a litmus test,” he said. “If you’re against the mining industry, you’re anti-Alaskan. She’s a Republican governor, and she’s got to show she’s pro-development.”

A week before the vote, Palin spoke with initiative opponent Mead Treadwell, the chairman of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission. He sensed that the governor was seeing things his way. “Palin said, ‘I can’t take a position, but if anyone asks me what I think, I’d say that I don’t like it,’ ” Treadwell recalled. “And about an hour later, someone asked her.”

She stated her opposition without warning Rick Halford, a conservative Republican and former state senator. A main initiative supporter, he had worked hard for Palin’s election. The two had talked during the summer about Pebble, and “she was cautious and trying to figure it out at that point,” he said.

Art Hackney, a political consultant and director of Alaskans for Clean Water, speculated that Palin may have been irked by complaints about the biased language on the state Web site. “It was her way of waving her wand, as she is wont to do,” he said, “. . . and poof, undercut this effort with one fell swoop.”

I can’t sign the recall petition, but I’m good for the $100 filing fee!

11102008

Abby in NY(19:50:29) :

Didn’t the governor of Conn. get kicked out of office for having work done on his house?”

11102008

Sauerkraut aka Pity Party Palin(19:50:54) :

If Democrats are socialists, then are republicans the communists? Sure seems that way far too often.

niters to those still awake.

11102008

asianHusseingrrl"that one"MN(19:52:45) :

And please, what the government in doing now IS NOT socialism. If it was, we never would have reached this point in the first place.

11102008

prettybrown(19:52:59) :

Suchanut (Wesson Scalper Palin)

Thanks for the video. Wow I love me some Barak Obama and his family. They are just such nice people. The behind the scenes make me like him even more.

11102008

Siege(19:53:46) :

To above posters who provided link:
Thanks for the video from Democratic convention to make me feel better. It seems so long ago now. Nice to revisit after the past several weeks. Sweet dreams!

11102008

asianHusseingrrl"that one"MN(19:55:17) :

Sorry. I meant to say that if we had a socialist government in the first place, we never would have reached this point. I get a little hetted up. I don’t mind disagreement, but I do wish the dissenters would eschew the Palin way of thinking and talking.

11102008

OFFICIALLY(19:58:38) :

Aussie Puck Mule

“But please tell your friend that if he is afraid of socialism, he should write to the GOP ASAP as they are promoting socializing major aspects of our banking system currently.”

You left out that the TEXTBOOK FASCIST manner in which the GOP brought socializing the banking system into play.

How ‘asleep’ at the wheel can the people be…..

11102008

Aussie Puck Mule Hussein(19:58:45) :

@wired hussein differently (19:50:23) :

I can’t sign the recall petition, but I’m good for the $100 filing fee!

****************

OK, we have the filing fee, we have double the number of voters necessary …..

After reading all the remarks about the building of the Palin’s house, I just wonder if anyone can find where they have a mortgage and who holds the mortgage. Building a house this expensive—–I would think that they would have to be making payments. Of course, unless they got the house for FREE!!
Also with a house that is this expensive, how could they pay for it. The Gov does not make this much money as Gov, nor her husband. This is according to the tax returns that were published. I don’t know where I saw this report, but as I remember, I don’t think they made enough to buy or build a house like this.

Don’t we have any investigative reporters in Alaska? Why wasn’t this woman vetted before she became governor? Are we that backwards up here. Palin is an embarrassment to Alaska.

11102008

Shikago aka Gary Hussein Shikago(20:07:08) :

asianHusseingrrlMN (19:40:09) :
So this one, supports the one, who sends women out to do his fighting for him because he a fwaidy tat?

Obama’s membership in the socialist New Party doesn’t can and he rears his head to bailout see Russia all of them um I read em all cause and since…

11102008

Aussie Puck Mule Hussein(20:07:41) :

@Lacy Lady (20:04:19) :

Also with a house that is this expensive, how could they pay for it. The Gov does not make this much money as Gov, nor her husband. This is according to the tax returns that were published. I don’t know where I saw this report, but as I remember, I don’t think they made enough to buy or build a house like this.

———————–

I wonder how much they were worth 6 or 7 years ago.😉

11102008

asianHusseingrrl"that one"MN(20:08:24) :

I just want to make clear (again) that my main criticism is with the Palin-like tone taken by a certain individual. I also think it’s much more apt to call what the GOP is doing fascist than socialist.

I apologize for my snarky tone in my earlier post. I will rein it in.

11102008

Aussie Puck Mule Hussein(20:08:54) :

Shikago aka Gary Hussein Shikago (20:07:08) :

Obama’s membership in the socialist New Party doesn’t can and he rears his head to bailout see Russia all of them um I read em all cause and since…

________________________________
😀

11102008

asianHusseingrrl"that one"MN(20:09:52) :

Shikago aka Gary Hussein Shikago:

Thanks for the laugh, man. I needed it. Ok, I can accept that kind of Palinism. Carry on, my good man.

11102008

Sparky(20:11:11) :

Darcy (18:32:14)

quick off topic

Darcy, the video was worth watching every second of it, thanks for the link.

11102008

Lacy Lady(20:13:21) :

http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/177.html
This a a must see video. I would like to see the author appear on Larry King Live.
“The creep of fascism in the US” YIKES!!!
It is rather long, but worth watching.

11102008

Joy from Wisconsin aka Chisel Dustup Palin(20:13:41) :

WHERE IS BRISTOL?

11102008

Glenn2008(20:13:48) :

Those of you naively questioning how Todd built his house,

You forget that you are dealing with a MAVERICK family.

It would have taken just a couple of afternoons in between juggling as hockeyparents, changing diapers and field dressing moose.

Who were the buddies? The Alaska Independence Party, with a little help from Pastor Muthee: “Lord make a way, Lord make a way.”

I wonder if the campaigning while Gov falls under the same Fed regulation/law as the one they are using against the sheriff in FL. I know she wasn’t in uniform, but how exactly do you take off you Governor hat? That just doesn’t really work. That’s like asking your teenager to forget that you are mom or dad and just be “cool” around you….yeah right. Like they are really gonna buy that you are not just trying to pull one over on them. SAME THING!!!! But somehow she really thought that she could get away with this because she had said that she was not doing this as Governor….WOW!!!!

1) Filing misdemeanor charges against Palin in Alaska court for the items that came up in the Branchflower Report that are probably misdemeanors.

2) If the DA accepts the misdemeanor charges as valid, and decides to prosecute, beginning a reacall petition process.

I’m hoping to know where to go on this by Tuesday.

11102008

ira2(20:16:03) :

Further thoughts on the building permit issue:

When I lived in AZ, my father came to visit from Germany for the first time and that was in the pre-stages of the Euro. He explained that his financial adviser had suggested investing abroad “to protect his money”, so he was looking to buy property in the US. I found him several to look at, and the one he decided on was a local business on 4 acres, a mix of country store and small food service, gas station, rental apartments, rental offices, public showers and laundromat (for the seasonal hunters, mostly). The building belonged to a Mormon who had close ties, of course, with the mostly Mormon-run county government. The town was unincorporated and under county rule, hence the county connection.

Anyway, as it turned out, this man had never gotten a building permit for the building nor a permit for the gas station (!!) and there was never a final inspection done, either. He was buddies with the building inspector and that was that. He’d finished the building and run the businesses for about 7 years before selling it to my father, so that tells you for how long someone can simply get away with this kind of thing.

Legally, nothing happened to him. We requested that the gas station part be dismantled and the tanks removed, and that a building inspection be done after which the seller would take care of the violations, if any, before the sale was final. He did that, he sold it, no problem. The building inspector stayed on duty, no waves, no nothing.

It’s still incomprehensible to me how that went down as it did, but after reading about the Palins’ house, I’m getting a better picture of what else could have been involved! *Shudder*.

11102008

wired hussein differently(20:20:01) :

just let me know who to write the $100 check out to and where to send it. AKM?

I’ll let you know what develops! AKM

11102008

Shikago aka Gary Hussein Shikago(20:20:46) :

To answer another of the plants, preplanted questions.
The 60’s democtratic base was much closer to druggist not marxist.

Sorry couldn’t help it.

11102008

Kim C(20:21:37) :

It’s been great reading your blog these past few weeks. Keep up the great work!

and where is Bridget ? I do not see her at her Daddy’s rallies….I believe she is very shy….just sayin…

11102008

ira2(20:22:28) :

Glenn2008 (20:13:48) :

Those of you naively questioning how Todd built his house,

You forget that you are dealing with a MAVERICK family.

It would have taken just a couple of afternoons in between juggling as hockeyparents, changing diapers and field dressing moose.

Who were the buddies? The Alaska Independence Party, with a little help from Pastor Muthee: “Lord make a way, Lord make a way.”

BWAHAHAHAHA!!! Oh my, that’s priceless!!!!!

11102008

Sparky(20:22:53) :

oooooo….AKM, (key, theme from Mission Impossible) you have us smiling now.

Handing information like this to National Enq. is like dangling a carrot, I would think.

I wonder, if they feel threatened with legal or ethical issues, contractors and suppliers will sing like birdies?

hmmm…can’t make this stuff up, indeed.😉

11102008

Joy from Wisconsin aka Chisel Dustup Palin(20:24:05) :

Is Bridget “pregnant” too?

11102008

TheraP(20:24:07) :

I gotta admit. I’m getting tired of these Palin Patterns and Onion Layers. Indeed, I wonder when The Onion itself might weigh in here. Nevertheless Alaska is currently chained to this Dame, so you have my great sympathy as you undertake yet another excavation adventure.

All I can say is that people who find it unpatriotic to pay taxes may well find it just as unpatriotic to pay contractors either. She was “mentored” – and learned the ropes from Alaska pros on the take. Oy Vey!

Keep digging, Alaska! You are our great hope.

11102008

asianHusseingrrl"that one"MN(20:24:24) :

Gary Hussein Shikago, you are on a roll! Keep it up.

11102008

Enjay aka Turbine Yukon(20:24:27) :

Great Video (mini documentary) thanks for sharing the link

11102008

Pursang(20:24:59) :

When I was just starting in the military I got stabbed in the back by someone (figuratively🙂 ) and I said to my boss that I was going to get the person, somehow someway. He then gave me the best advice I have ever received in my near 50 years on this planet. He told me not to bother with retribution because more than likely it would backfire and I would get in big trouble. He said that sooner or later the person would screw the wrong person, someone with a lot more power than I had, and the result would be a lot worse for the person than I would be able to make happen.

Every time I see another Palin fiasco I’m reminded of those words my boss once gave me. How many people have Sarah and Todd Palin screwed over in their lives and they did it all while thinking there would be no bill to pay, there would be no retribution. While those people may not have been able to inact any justice the Palin’s have now screwed with the wrong people and they’re getting their’s now.

It was always meant to be this way Sarah. You chose to seek revenge on those you felt wronged you and it was you that held petty grudges. It was you who used your position for your own gain. It was you who in your greed for power accepted a nomination for Vice President when you truly weren’t ready for it. It was you (and the McCain campaign) that then tried to cover up your lack of national knowledge by hiding you from the press and the people. When questioned about this hiding you struck back saying you were the one being wronged while making bizarre assertions like you had international experience because you could see Russia from Alaska or that a few years running a town of 5000 people afforded you more experience than being a U.S. Senator.

Yes Sarah, your life is becoming like those layers of an onion. Another analogy is your life is unwinding like a ball of yarn. One little pull and more and more about the way you and your controlling husband operate comes out and none of it is pretty.

I grew up in a fairly small city of 60,000 people but with it being a regional hub I had and have a lot of friends from small towns. The people in these small towns barter with their friends and neighbors to get things done so I can see how that is similiar to how people do things in Alaska. But by now we know how Palin operates and it’s clear she’s learned a lot from all of the corrupt Republican politicians. Position is power and what’s the use of having power unless you use to get things for free. Had this been brought up before Troopergate nobody would have looked twice at it and if they did they’d be accused of being part of the tinfoil hat brigade. But now Sarah, we know who you are and I’d bet a big chunk of money that you exchanged favors for a free or close to free house. It’s who you are…it’s how you operate.

I know this will sound terrible but please keep digging up things about your Governor. For the sake of this country you need to do this so in the end there is no way she can run for President in 2012 or hopefully ever. She is a very dangerous person not only in her personal idealogy but also in the way she operates politically. While she is a novice, given half a chance she will exceed the damage that Cheney and Bush brought on this country by a hundredfold and that is something we can ill afford.

As my Momma used to say, “Sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite”.

11102008

Pursang(20:25:32) :

Whoops, didn’t know that was that long….sorry!🙂

11102008

Enjay aka Turbine Yukon(20:27:08) :

@ Joy from Wisconsin aka Chisel Dustup Palin (20:13:41) :

WHERE IS BRISTOL?
=====================================

Probably home in Alaska – Grounded (no flying) due to pregnancy and preparing for that lovely wedding (no doubt)

11102008

Shikago aka Gary Hussein Shikago(20:28:23) :

ira2 (20:22:28) :
Lord make a way, Lord make a way.”

BWAHAHAHAHA!!! Oh my, that’s priceless!!!!!

aaahhhh ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha I am laughin so hard right now, thanks so much I needed that. Isn’t she so craptastic.

11102008

ira2(20:32:21) :

Um, I don’t mean to make disrespectful remarks about Mr. Muthee or his kind of church. It’s just been hard to keep a lid on my sparse sense of humor ever since my sweet little old lady neighbor in AZ (properly saved by the Assembly Of God, along with her equally saved dirty-old-man husband) wagged her finger at me and said, “you know the snake is the devil.” I had two pet boas at the time, and she made her remark during a conversation about our respective pets.

Anyway, I kept my face under control and just asked, “what, both of them?”
And I thought, hey, how lucky can you be, no need to fear the devil, they’re both of them locked up in cages at my house!!

I’ve had a hard time taking the simplistic Saved Ones seriously ever since.

11102008

"That One!" aka Dal(20:33:12) :

TO: Pursang,

Great points, thanks…reminds me of the saying: Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones….less you bring down your own house!

11102008

JBDC(20:33:56) :

ok. i watched the interview with the First Dude. holy mackeral! is there ANYBODY more BORING than todd palin??!!! i guess sarah sucks all the air out of room so perhaps her energry + his = 1. ug. he is SUCH A SNOOZE!!

AKM–how’s progress on the new website?? we miss the Edit function, although we only had access to it briefly : )

11102008

OFFICIALLY(20:35:25) :

THANK YOU MR. MUNGER.

1) Filing misdemeanor charges against Palin in Alaska court for the items that came up in the Branchflower Report that are probably misdemeanors.

2) If the DA accepts the misdemeanor charges as valid, and decides to prosecute, beginning a reacall petition process.

I’m hoping to know where to go on this by Tuesday.

11102008

Vlad the I'm HUSSEIN Palin(20:36:24) :

In rebuttal to the stink raised by ACORN, here is a letter published in the Montana Standard newspaper of Oct 5. The author, John Bohlinger, is the Republican Lt-Governor (the Governor is a Democrat) of Montana.
PLEASE PASS THIS ON:

Frank St. Pierre, of Anaconda, fought in World War II. He is one of the most decorated living veterans in America. And yet, on Wednesday, my party — the Montana Republican Party — tried to invalidate his voter registration because he lives in a county with a lot of Democrats. Incredible as this may sound to you, it is the truth.

When people ask why, as a Republican, I agreed to become part of a Democratic administration, I tell them that I believe in putting my state before my party. This has created tension at times. On occasion the folks who run the Republican Party have tried to lock me out of their convention, and this year they even tried to prevent me from speaking at the Presidential Primary Caucus in support of John McCain.

I have always taken this treatment in stride. As the saying goes, “All’s fair in love, war and politics.” But the executive director of the Republican Party crossed the line when he attempted to remove 6,000 voters from the rolls in Montana. These voters are law-abiding citizens and are legally registered. Some are veterans. Others are active servicemen, serving in Iraq and Afghanistan or about to be deployed there.

As a Republican, I was ashamed to hear of this. But as a Marine, I was outraged. Why would the Republican Party, which always claims to care greatly about our troops, do this?

It appears that Republican operatives looked to gain an advantage by purging as many voters as possible from counties that lean Democrat. The director of the Republican Party issued a blanket challenge to validly registered voters based on false criteria, trying to persuade election clerks that a mere change of mailing address is grounds for automatic cancellation of voter registration.

Not only was the effort blatantly deceptive, but the Republicans based their challenge on a national change-of-address database from an out-of-state vendor who sells personal information. Among other problems, this database lists servicemen and women who have been deployed overseas as having moved out of Montana. In other words, if you go to Iraq, or Afghanistan, or Fort Sill, Okla., to report for active duty, you have “moved out of the state” according to this list.

A significant number of the 6,000 voters targeted were servicemen, including Kevin Furey, a former state legislator from Missoula who left the legislature to serve in Iraq; Cindie Kalan-Green, who is also serving in Iraq; and Mathew Robison, who I am told has been deployed to Fort Drum.

Many were college students and elderly people. For example, Babe Aspholm, of Anaconda, an elderly man, simply moved across town from his house to a senior living center. The Republicans tried to void his registration. Tom Detonacour, a policeman from Deer Lodge County who simply bought a house in another county, also got targeted.

But worst of all is the legendary Frank St. Pierre, 86, also of Anaconda, who helped save thousands of allied troops at Dunkirk in World War II and has 10 Medals of Honor. St. Pierre, too, moved from one end of town to the other, and the Republicans tried to void his and his wife’s registrations. I have a copy of the signed affidavits from the Republicans, declaring that Frank and Marilyn St. Pierre’s voter registrations must be purged. An utter disgrace.

Beyond the outrageous lack of consideration for citizens, patriots and heroes, a significant burden and cost has been placed on county election administrators, public servants who work hard to ensure the integrity of our elections. They have been completely swamped by this scheme.

I am a Republican, and I will continue to be a Republican. But I am appalled at the leadership of my political party. I urge party elders to take action and promptly withdraw this outrageous effort to challenge the eligibility of legitimate voters, and to call for the removal any Republican Party employees responsible for this. This kind of activity has no place in a democracy. Finally, I would urge the voters of Montana whose registrations have been improperly challenged not to be discouraged by this unfortunate effort.

— John Bohlinger is Montana’s lieutenant governor. He may be reached via e-mail at jbohlinger@mt.gov.

Frank St. Pierre, of Anaconda, fought in World War II. He is one of the most decorated living veterans in America. And yet, on Wednesday, my party — the Montana Republican Party — tried to invalidate his voter registration because he lives in a county with a lot of Democrats. Incredible as this may sound to you, it is the truth.

When people ask why, as a Republican, I agreed to become part of a Democratic administration, I tell them that I believe in putting my state before my party. This has created tension at times. On occasion the folks who run the Republican Party have tried to lock me out of their convention, and this year they even tried to prevent me from speaking at the Presidential Primary Caucus in support of John McCain.

I have always taken this treatment in stride. As the saying goes, “All’s fair in love, war and politics.” But the executive director of the Republican Party crossed the line when he attempted to remove 6,000 voters from the rolls in Montana. These voters are law-abiding citizens and are legally registered. Some are veterans. Others are active servicemen, serving in Iraq and Afghanistan or about to be deployed there.

As a Republican, I was ashamed to hear of this. But as a Marine, I was outraged. Why would the Republican Party, which always claims to care greatly about our troops, do this?

It appears that Republican operatives looked to gain an advantage by purging as many voters as possible from counties that lean Democrat. The director of the Republican Party issued a blanket challenge to validly registered voters based on false criteria, trying to persuade election clerks that a mere change of mailing address is grounds for automatic cancellation of voter registration.

Not only was the effort blatantly deceptive, but the Republicans based their challenge on a national change-of-address database from an out-of-state vendor who sells personal information. Among other problems, this database lists servicemen and women who have been deployed overseas as having moved out of Montana. In other words, if you go to Iraq, or Afghanistan, or Fort Sill, Okla., to report for active duty, you have “moved out of the state” according to this list.

A significant number of the 6,000 voters targeted were servicemen, including Kevin Furey, a former state legislator from Missoula who left the legislature to serve in Iraq; Cindie Kalan-Green, who is also serving in Iraq; and Mathew Robison, who I am told has been deployed to Fort Drum.

Many were college students and elderly people. For example, Babe Aspholm, of Anaconda, an elderly man, simply moved across town from his house to a senior living center. The Republicans tried to void his registration. Tom Detonacour, a policeman from Deer Lodge County who simply bought a house in another county, also got targeted.

But worst of all is the legendary Frank St. Pierre, 86, also of Anaconda, who helped save thousands of allied troops at Dunkirk in World War II and has 10 Medals of Honor. St. Pierre, too, moved from one end of town to the other, and the Republicans tried to void his and his wife’s registrations. I have a copy of the signed affidavits from the Republicans, declaring that Frank and Marilyn St. Pierre’s voter registrations must be purged. An utter disgrace.

Beyond the outrageous lack of consideration for citizens, patriots and heroes, a significant burden and cost has been placed on county election administrators, public servants who work hard to ensure the integrity of our elections. They have been completely swamped by this scheme.

I am a Republican, and I will continue to be a Republican. But I am appalled at the leadership of my political party. I urge party elders to take action and promptly withdraw this outrageous effort to challenge the eligibility of legitimate voters, and to call for the removal any Republican Party employees responsible for this. This kind of activity has no place in a democracy. Finally, I would urge the voters of Montana whose registrations have been improperly challenged not to be discouraged by this unfortunate effort.

— John Bohlinger is Montana’s lieutenant governor. He may be reached via e-mail at jbohlinger@mt.gov.

Rebuttal to ACORN (the Republicans have their own version it seems). The following is from the Oct 5 issue of the Montana Standard – the letter written by the Republican Lt-Governor of Montana (the Governor is a Democrat):

Frank St. Pierre, of Anaconda, fought in World War II. He is one of the most decorated living veterans in America. And yet, on Wednesday, my party — the Montana Republican Party — tried to invalidate his voter registration because he lives in a county with a lot of Democrats. Incredible as this may sound to you, it is the truth.

When people ask why, as a Republican, I agreed to become part of a Democratic administration, I tell them that I believe in putting my state before my party. This has created tension at times. On occasion the folks who run the Republican Party have tried to lock me out of their convention, and this year they even tried to prevent me from speaking at the Presidential Primary Caucus in support of John McCain.

I have always taken this treatment in stride. As the saying goes, “All’s fair in love, war and politics.” But the executive director of the Republican Party crossed the line when he attempted to remove 6,000 voters from the rolls in Montana. These voters are law-abiding citizens and are legally registered. Some are veterans. Others are active servicemen, serving in Iraq and Afghanistan or about to be deployed there.

As a Republican, I was ashamed to hear of this. But as a Marine, I was outraged. Why would the Republican Party, which always claims to care greatly about our troops, do this?

It appears that Republican operatives looked to gain an advantage by purging as many voters as possible from counties that lean Democrat. The director of the Republican Party issued a blanket challenge to validly registered voters based on false criteria, trying to persuade election clerks that a mere change of mailing address is grounds for automatic cancellation of voter registration.

Not only was the effort blatantly deceptive, but the Republicans based their challenge on a national change-of-address database from an out-of-state vendor who sells personal information. Among other problems, this database lists servicemen and women who have been deployed overseas as having moved out of Montana. In other words, if you go to Iraq, or Afghanistan, or Fort Sill, Okla., to report for active duty, you have “moved out of the state” according to this list.

A significant number of the 6,000 voters targeted were servicemen, including Kevin Furey, a former state legislator from Missoula who left the legislature to serve in Iraq; Cindie Kalan-Green, who is also serving in Iraq; and Mathew Robison, who I am told has been deployed to Fort Drum.

Many were college students and elderly people. For example, Babe Aspholm, of Anaconda, an elderly man, simply moved across town from his house to a senior living center. The Republicans tried to void his registration. Tom Detonacour, a policeman from Deer Lodge County who simply bought a house in another county, also got targeted.

But worst of all is the legendary Frank St. Pierre, 86, also of Anaconda, who helped save thousands of allied troops at Dunkirk in World War II and has 10 Medals of Honor. St. Pierre, too, moved from one end of town to the other, and the Republicans tried to void his and his wife’s registrations. I have a copy of the signed affidavits from the Republicans, declaring that Frank and Marilyn St. Pierre’s voter registrations must be purged. An utter disgrace.

Beyond the outrageous lack of consideration for citizens, patriots and heroes, a significant burden and cost has been placed on county election administrators, public servants who work hard to ensure the integrity of our elections. They have been completely swamped by this scheme.

I am a Republican, and I will continue to be a Republican. But I am appalled at the leadership of my political party. I urge party elders to take action and promptly withdraw this outrageous effort to challenge the eligibility of legitimate voters, and to call for the removal any Republican Party employees responsible for this. This kind of activity has no place in a democracy. Finally, I would urge the voters of Montana whose registrations have been improperly challenged not to be discouraged by this unfortunate effort.

— John Bohlinger is Montana’s lieutenant governor. He may be reached via e-mail at jbohlinger@mt.gov.

11102008

ColoradoHusseinGal(20:41:48) :

Have you read SP’s interview in ADN? Does she truly not have a clue or does she live in an alternate universe?

If you want to see an article that summarizes all of the Sarah Palin issues–and assigns blame via her “Divine Right” attitude and narcissism, check out the link above on Daily Kos.

11102008

knikgoose HUSSEIN!!(20:43:22) :

@whichferret :
Easy answer. Recall Talis Colberg on grounds that he directed the witnesses to ignore subpoenas. He, as a lawyer, could/should be disbarred for this advice.
So, double the petition up, get a siggy on each, get rid of Palin and Colberg at the same time as it appears to be collusion at the least.

Palin House:
If you listen, you’ll hear the answers.
Todd said he and his buddies built it : no labor costs. This is the house that the Joe Six-Hundred-Packs built!
So, the nearest beer store would probably be a good place to start, and if I could remember the name of the lady who worked there then, I bet she’d tell you a lot, too.
Now, if Todd was up on the slope for the most part at the time,..who did it? Who watched it? His PARTNER? The couple with whom they share ownership of other properties? The Richters, now divorced, “she” directs the Alaska PFD fund, and he (Scott) wants the divorce papers sealed. Hmmm, wonder what’s in there.
And then, there’s Wooten. For sure he knows the scoop. Maybe that’s the dirt he’s got on them to make them run such a campaign against him.

How about Todd, himself? Sarah is the sociopath. It’s hardly likely that they’re BOTH sociopaths, but he’s had to put up with her. Maybe he’d like to cough up some honesty, instead of living under the bus.

Frank St. Pierre, of Anaconda, fought in World War II. He is one of the most decorated living veterans in America. And yet, on Wednesday, my party — the Montana Republican Party — tried to invalidate his voter registration because he lives in a county with a lot of Democrats. Incredible as this may sound to you, it is the truth.

When people ask why, as a Republican, I agreed to become part of a Democratic administration, I tell them that I believe in putting my state before my party. This has created tension at times. On occasion the folks who run the Republican Party have tried to lock me out of their convention, and this year they even tried to prevent me from speaking at the Presidential Primary Caucus in support of John McCain.

I have always taken this treatment in stride. As the saying goes, “All’s fair in love, war and politics.” But the executive director of the Republican Party crossed the line when he attempted to remove 6,000 voters from the rolls in Montana. These voters are law-abiding citizens and are legally registered. Some are veterans. Others are active servicemen, serving in Iraq and Afghanistan or about to be deployed there.

As a Republican, I was ashamed to hear of this. But as a Marine, I was outraged. Why would the Republican Party, which always claims to care greatly about our troops, do this?

It appears that Republican operatives looked to gain an advantage by purging as many voters as possible from counties that lean Democrat. The director of the Republican Party issued a blanket challenge to validly registered voters based on false criteria, trying to persuade election clerks that a mere change of mailing address is grounds for automatic cancellation of voter registration.

Not only was the effort blatantly deceptive, but the Republicans based their challenge on a national change-of-address database from an out-of-state vendor who sells personal information. Among other problems, this database lists servicemen and women who have been deployed overseas as having moved out of Montana. In other words, if you go to Iraq, or Afghanistan, or Fort Sill, Okla., to report for active duty, you have “moved out of the state” according to this list.

A significant number of the 6,000 voters targeted were servicemen, including Kevin Furey, a former state legislator from Missoula who left the legislature to serve in Iraq; Cindie Kalan-Green, who is also serving in Iraq; and Mathew Robison, who I am told has been deployed to Fort Drum.

Many were college students and elderly people. For example, Babe Aspholm, of Anaconda, an elderly man, simply moved across town from his house to a senior living center. The Republicans tried to void his registration. Tom Detonacour, a policeman from Deer Lodge County who simply bought a house in another county, also got targeted.

But worst of all is the legendary Frank St. Pierre, 86, also of Anaconda, who helped save thousands of allied troops at Dunkirk in World War II and has 10 Medals of Honor. St. Pierre, too, moved from one end of town to the other, and the Republicans tried to void his and his wife’s registrations. I have a copy of the signed affidavits from the Republicans, declaring that Frank and Marilyn St. Pierre’s voter registrations must be purged. An utter disgrace.

Beyond the outrageous lack of consideration for citizens, patriots and heroes, a significant burden and cost has been placed on county election administrators, public servants who work hard to ensure the integrity of our elections. They have been completely swamped by this scheme.

I am a Republican, and I will continue to be a Republican. But I am appalled at the leadership of my political party. I urge party elders to take action and promptly withdraw this outrageous effort to challenge the eligibility of legitimate voters, and to call for the removal any Republican Party employees responsible for this. This kind of activity has no place in a democracy. Finally, I would urge the voters of Montana whose registrations have been improperly challenged not to be discouraged by this unfortunate effort.

— John Bohlinger is Montana’s lieutenant governor. He may be reached via e-mail at jbohlinger@mt.gov.

In the Anchorage Daily News interview, SWWNBN says, “Well, I’m very very pleased to be cleared of any legal wrongdoing … any hint of any kind of unethical activity there. Very pleased to be cleared of any of that. Todd did what anyone would have done given this state trooper’s very, very troubling behavior and his dangerous threats against our family. Todd did what I think any Alaskan would do.” I am not kidding. This is truly from an interview she had with Alaska reporters.

Above written by republican Lt-Governor of Montana rebuking his own party because of their improper voter registration purges. Montana Standard of Oct 5

11102008

Lulu(20:49:27) :

@”That One”:

Thanks for the heads-up on the Times story. I esp. enjoyed this paragraph from that new NY TImes article that you linked to: “Again and again, [GOP] party leaders said in interviews that while they still believed that Mr. McCain could win over voters in the next 30 days, they were concerned that he and his advisers seemed to be adrift in dealing with an extraordinarily challenging political battleground and a crisis on Wall Street.”

[…] What she didn’t tell worshippers gathered at the Wasilla Assembly of God church in her hometown was that her appearance that day came courtesy of Alaskan taxpayers, who picked up the $639.50 tab for her airplane tickets and per diem fees.

An Associated Press review of the Republican vice presidential candidate’s record as mayor and governor reveals her use of elected office to promote religious causes, sometimes at taxpayer expense and in ways that blur the line between church and state.

Since she took state office in late 2006, the governor and her family have spent more than $13,000 in taxpayer funds to attend at least 10 religious events and meetings with Christian pastors, including Franklin Graham, the son of evangelical preacher Billy Graham, records show. […]

Another onion layer, it looks like. Have I missed any previous mention of this?

11102008

Aussie Puck Mule Hussein(20:50:15) :

@ColoradoHusseinGal (20:41:48) :

Have you read SP’s interview in ADN? Does she truly not have a clue or does she live in an alternate universe?

And hey, Ms. Sarah has given us all permission to peel that onion, so grab your kitchen utensils…

Here’s a quote from her Philly fundraiser: “We just want to make sure that in this campaign, that we uphold the standards of tolerance and truth-telling,” she said. “There have been things said, of course, that have allowed those standards to be violated on both sides, on both tickets. We want to uphold those standards, and again it’s not mean-spirited, it’s not negative campaigning, when we call someone out on their record.” http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/us/politics/12strategy.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin

11102008

knikgoose HUSSEIN!!(20:58:41) :

Wow, I find more crap, LOl

“Who actually flies that floatplane? According to FAA records, Todd Palin only has a Private Pilot with a Single Engine Land rating.”

“The Old Knik Landfill is beneath the Smith Ball Fields across Lake Lucille from the Palin home. There was no cleanup of this dump and the toxins remain in the landfill. Children playing at the field drink water from a well drilled through the dump. As a self-proclaimed “soccer mom” how does Gov. Palin feel about children playing on this nearby toxic waste site? Do her children play at Smith Ball Fields?”
(It’s a dead lake-seriously)

Philadelphia Flyers fans cheered and clapped as Sarah Palin took to the ice at the Wachovia Center on Saturday night to drop the ceremonial puck kicking off this town’s NHL season, their warm reception was no match for the 90 seconds of sustained booing that rumbled through the arena, drowning out most of the cheers in support of the Republican vice presidential nominee.
As Palin stepped onto the ice before a capacity crowd to drop the puck, joined by her daughters Willow and Piper, the arena’s jumbotron flashed a futile message to the thousands of notoriously harsh Philadelphia sports fans in attendance.
“Flyers fans, show Philadelphia’s class and welcome America’s #1 hockey mom, Sarah Palin,” the massive electronic message board pleaded, to little effect. Booing quickly erupted when the smiling candidate emerged from a tunnel leading onto the ice, muffling the applause of any Palin supporters in the crowd.
Some in the audience simply gave her a thumbs down gesture. Others called her names

11102008

Vlad the I'm HUSSEIN Palin(21:03:13) :

Bizarre re the land/house appraisals over the 3 years. Land values go up with the passing of the years and as the house ages, it depreciates. It is totally opposite on their appraisals.

11102008

knikgoose HUSSEIN!!(21:05:49) :

Vlad the I’m HUSSEIN Palin (21:03:13) :

Bizarre re the land/house appraisals over the 3 years. Land values go up with the passing of the years and as the house ages, it depreciates. It is totally opposite on their appraisals.

Maybe it’s the landfill on the other side, leaching into the water that has also killed all the fish. I wasn’t kidding, the lake is dead.

11102008

ira2(21:08:02) :

Vlad the I’m HUSSEIN Palin (21:03:13) :

Bizarre re the land/house appraisals over the 3 years. Land values go up with the passing of the years and as the house ages, it depreciates. It is totally opposite on their appraisals.

Can you somehow check what they list for adjoining properties? (I have no idea how to do this)

11102008

Crust Scramble - SouthGA(21:08:13) :

Thanks, AKM. Good to know you’re keeping up with all the ‘Palingates’.

11102008

Sparky(21:09:18) :

Vlad the I’m HUSSEIN Palin (20:49:00)

Vlad…great post, thanks!

11102008

mmboucher(21:09:42) :

On another blog they said to go to ” dnr.state.ak.us ” to find details on Sarah & Todd’s house

11102008

Lulu(21:10:42) :

The more I hear about the Palins and their modus operandi, I just don’t understand how Alaskans have been able to stand the Palins’ time in office….

This must be so painful….every day more corruption…a slow leak, another eke…it’s like getting a different fingernail pulled out every day or something…

11102008

Big Al from LV, Nv(21:12:06) :

Would someone please call the Pat’s (Robertson and Buchanan) and inform them that the Anti-Christ has finally taken control of their movement?

11102008

Shikago aka Gary Hussein Shikago(21:14:37) :

Marty Hussein That One Voter Idiot Hater (20:48:02) :

I vote AKM Trouble Maker of the Year..!

Do I have a second?

I’ll second, all in favor?
I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I
—————————-

2nd lastly, AKM I have been losing a lot of sleep thanks to this joint. It is so exciting, a peel here, within an hour, another peel there, pretty soon we’re drillin through toxic waste dumps to put in a drinking fountain for the kids and before my eyes, Palin Soup’s a simmerin. I just wanted to give you a heartfelt thanks. Job well done.

11102008

OFFICIALLY(21:15:47) :

King Goose…How about Todd, himself? Sarah is the sociopath. It’s hardly likely that they’re BOTH sociopaths, but he’s had to put up with her. Maybe he’d like to cough up some honesty, instead of living under the bus.
———————————-

Todd doesn’t know he is under the buss yet. Todd still thinks he is falling on the sword for the Country. Probably has been promised something like a cabinet position invented especially for him…..like the minster of police.

SP’s narcissistic strategy with respect to Todd is already manifesting. Todd is mia with the straight talk express, sent home like a whipped pup, Sara Palin sans ‘the ring’ on the campaign trail recently. Todd filing his affidavit, none from the Queen, Todd in charge of paying taxes and building the house…

11102008

Vlad the I'm HUSSEIN Palin(21:18:38) :

ira2 – you’d have to go to a realtor in the area or to the land title office. Unless the house has been ‘improved’ with each successive year, it cannot possibly appreciate as it is aging and building codes change, making parts of the house ‘out of date’ with any newer building codes.

Philadelphia Flyers fans cheered and clapped as Sarah Palin took to the ice at the Wachovia Center on Saturday night to drop the ceremonial puck kicking off this town’s NHL season, their warm reception was no match for the 90 seconds of sustained booing that rumbled through the arena, drowning out most of the cheers in support of the Republican vice presidential nominee.
As Palin stepped onto the ice before a capacity crowd to drop the puck, joined by her daughters Willow and Piper, the arena’s jumbotron flashed a futile message to the thousands of notoriously harsh Philadelphia sports fans in attendance.
“Flyers fans, show Philadelphia’s class and welcome America’s #1 hockey mom, Sarah Palin,” the massive electronic message board pleaded, to little effect. Booing quickly erupted when the smiling candidate emerged from a tunnel leading onto the ice, muffling the applause of any Palin supporters in the crowd.
Some in the audience simply gave her a thumbs down gesture. Others called her names
————————————————-
In my wayward youth I once parked cars for the Philadelphia Eagles home games. Philadelphia fans are the absolute toughest crowd on the face of the Earth. There is no doubt about it. Why did the McRage campaign not foresee this in their PR analysis? Duh! Get her completely out of Philadelphia. Forget the Hockey Mom as Bible Spice from Wasila. They would boo Jesus Christ Himself in Philadelphia if the weather was bad.

11102008

Vlad the I'm HUSSEIN Palin(21:22:05) :

@Sparky – please pass the link on – it makes the Republican’s scam look just like what they say ACORN is doing

Above written by republican Lt-Governor of Montana rebuking his own party because of their improper voter registration purges. Montana Standard of Oct 5

11102008

Jukesgrrl(21:24:27) :

I trust you’re not just looking at the house but also at the land it was built on. I definitely remember reading online last year about Alaska’s Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R) buying prime property along the Kenai River for way less than it was worth on the open market. If I remember correctly, she had to sell it back.

If Palin’s house construction is a shaky deal, the land probably is, too.

And even if Palin’s house is expensive, in addition to her (isn’t it $80,000/yr. salary as governor?) it says in your article that The Tawd makes hundreds of thousands via sponsorship of his snowmachine team (and he at least USED to have a job-job didn’t he … that is before he became the governor’s de facto chief of staff). That should buy a decent-sized house, even in Alaska. (NOT to imply that her mortgage wasn’t thown in by funny-they’re-no-longer-broke-Wachovia while they were lending mega-bucks to the Republican National Committee.)

11102008

Enjay aka Turbine Yukon(21:24:35) :

Off topic but an FYI — maybe this last debate WILL be a debate

“””After watching the first two debates between the presidential and vice presidential candidates, Schieffer said that he’s going to try to make sure that the candidates answer his questions. In the vp debate with PBS’ Gwen Ifill, neither candidate hewed precisely to the topic at hand, and GOP vp candidate Sarah Palin said flat out that she wasn’t going to answer some questions.

“If they do (fail to answer the questions), I’m going to call them on it,” Schieffer said. Not answering questions “is not what a debate is about,” he said.”””

Above written by republican Lt-Governor of Montana rebuking his own party because of their improper voter registration purges. Montana Standard of Oct 5
================================================

Thanks for reposting that ( I did a couple days ago from The Billings Gazette) I think its important to note that our Gov. is Democrat while the Lt. Gov. is a Republican — a rather unique ticket for our state.

Pass it on
———————————–
Wow! Thank you for posting this and bringing it to our attention. Unbelievable. Just unbelievable. I am absolutely speechless. I am a veteran myself and my father loaded the ships for Tarawa in WWII. I am outraged that they would try such a mindless tactic. This is ridiculous.

11102008

Vlad the I'm HUSSEIN Palin(21:37:14) :

“Poor Alice! Everywhere she went in Wonderland was confusing! Her entire adventure was a puzzle”.

11102008

guitarlinda(21:38:56) :

Love this site…… from Oregon
Re: real estate…was in residential real estate a dozen years. Newer housing can and usually does go up in value in my experience as replacement costs rise, could be different in AK.

I expect, however, that HOUSING GATE will be huge.

11102008

Marty Hussein That One Voter Idiot Hater(21:39:47) :

Knik, it occured to me..

With the little womans house, would it be possible that her neighbors would have some clue about who was really building it?

I did a reverse address lookup and funny, everyone nearby has their phones blocked. although for a small fee, it’s easy to get them.

Maybe if someone in wasilla near her home saw trucks (with names??? !!) on them that would prove who was really building the house?

Time to get jiggy on her ass..! That sly, cocky grin..she thinks she can scam the USA.. I think it’s up to you guys in town, and the rest of us across the world to get into the mud and dig for info!!

11102008

Aussie Puck Mule Hussein(21:41:18) :

Clintons launch campaign swing for Obama in Pa.

WASHINGTON (AP) — When Bill and Hillary Clinton take the stage Sunday at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, it will be the launch of an active campaign for their former nemesis Barack Obama in the home stretch of the 2008 presidential race.

We are working to get our site to reflect the correct amounts on the My Property Site. We will announce the success in this endeavor here when we are sure the amounts are correctly displayed.
If you have questions please call Finance at 745-9619 or fax them at 745-0886″

11102008

knikgoose HUSSEIN!!(21:49:43) :

Sorry, screwed that up, notice is the bottom paragraph

11102008

HamletsMill aka Rot Pipeline Palin(21:51:58) :

Pursang (20:24:59) :,

Excellent post. It’s called going to the Big Leagues. Sarah Palin did not understand about going to the big leagues of U.S. national politics. She does not know. And worse still she does not understand the next step up after that: the world stage. And every educated and experienced person here who has literally traveled the world over their lifetime or done so through reading books and studying history at home knows that world is very dangerous and fraught with problems on a scale far beyone what she knows. The first cosmic thing to understand in life is karma. She has never made a study of this in life. What goes around comes around. Her Jesus actually taught this. But it is buried in there and you have to dig for understanding. It apparently just went over her head.

KARMA IS A BITCH!

11102008

Hussein! Wesson Scalper Canuck for Choice(21:52:38) :

I, too, like the onion metaphor, AKM. PEEL BABY PEEL! I think Housegate may be just one of the outer layers of this rotten onion. Can First Stooge be placed outside Wasilla during the house buliding completion, through newspaper articles/photos during their campaigning in Alaskan towns and cities? Just a thought.
______________________________________________________________________

OFFICIALLY (19:01:05) wrote :

Aussie Puck Mule Hussein:

Pleased? Yes, with those who pursue truth………I also maybe have a weird sense of humor……….”the most (unintentionally) hilarious part of the whole saga. In the run-up to Alaska’s 2008 Police Memorial Day event, Monegan visited Palin in Anchorage and brought along an official portrait of a state trooper in uniform, saluting in front of the police memorial in Anchorage, for Palin to sign and present at the event. The trooper? Mike Wooten.”
_____________________________________________________________________

Given that Walt Monegan wasn’t aware of SP’s connection to Trooper Wooten, there was no malice, only coincidence in the selection of Wooten for the PR photo that Monegan asked SP to sign. I can only imagine the pit bull grinding her teeth like a meth head and foaming at the mouth, hilarious!

I find it odd that Bible Thumping Barbie is slated to host Saturday Night Live. I know the reason is ratings and boosting the bottom line, but it just seems bizarre. The writers and comedians are likely being told to play nice or else. The Repugs and the godbotherers have likely bought lots of tickets to the show, and as for the rest of the audience, will they get kicked out if they boo?

It took next to no convincing to get 5 friends/relatives to read The Mudflats and vote for AKM for the Bloggers Choice Awards. I ask all Mudflatters to do the same: 5 people (and ask them to ask 5 people to do the same). For AKM’s commitment/ dedication, good writing, and especially, MUCKRAKING, s/he deserves this award.

11102008

Big Al from LV, Nv(21:53:20) :

Knowing the history of presidential and presidential candidate assasinations in this country- Abraham Lincoln, JFK, RFK- why haven’t the preachers Jerry Falwell
James Dobson, and Pat Robertson called for the resignation of Sarah Palin for inciting her supporters to demand for the head of Barack Obama? Unless, of course, these preacher-students of American political history are the all-knowing puppetmasters pulling the same strings of “treason charges” that preluded the assasination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas.

11102008

guitarlinda(21:56:00) :

re: home value
In Oregon cost of new construction would be 80 to 129 per square ft. So 3400 sq foot would be around $300,000+ or – not counting land.

I find it odd that Bible Thumping Barbie is slated to host Saturday Night Live. I know the reason is ratings and boosting the bottom line, but it just seems bizarre. The writers and comedians are likely being told to play nice or else. The Repugs and the godbotherers have likely bought lots of tickets to the show, and as for the rest of the audience, will they get kicked out if they boo?
——————————————–

Is she really supposed to guest host? I figured a cameo of some sort would be passable. But to guest host? That takes a week of solid preparation amid a critical political campaign? No way! That would be ridiculous on the part of the McCain campaign. Again, her self confidence is pathological. She does not have the chops for that. A cameo could be done yes. A whole show would be a potential catastrophic embarrassment. 90 minutes of a Katie Couric time warp fade in and fade out with a national audience on some sort of frenetic alternate universe LSD. Thanks but no thanks. And what does that have to do with being Vice President (or God forbid!) President of the United States? Besides, the right grievance ideology machine Rovian spin impaired sociopaths say SNL is an “Eastern elitist” show. So what would be any advantage for her at all to go on there and try to get the SNL vote? Man, if somebody wants to put her on as guest host for an entire show, they are smoking some serious herb and this country truly has gone through the looking glass than I have ever thought possible even after eight years of Yale legacy student GWB.

Somebody tell me this is NOT true?

11102008

THAT ONE TiredMom HUSSEIN(22:08:28) :

I have been enjoying this blog way too much! I am sooooo addicted! You guys are Great!!! I have been reading it since a few days after SWWNBN was tapped as VP choice.

I live in Richmond, VA where Palin will be visiting on Monday. She was orginally scheduled to appear at the inner city (read: 70% black population) Arthur Ashe Sports Center (read: named for a black man). Her venue has been changed to the Richmond International Raceway (aka: RIR -Redneck Idiots Raceway), Hank Williams Jr has been scheduled to appear to insure plenty of people who could not afford a ticket to his show otherwise turn out for the event. So, when y’all see all those thousands at her rally in Richmond, it’s only because Bocephus is playing.

On another note, how about Track-gate? I read on AK Craigslist R&R quite a while ago that he HAD to join the military due to his involvement in a tire slashing spree with some friends and also drug use.

There was also some Wasilla gossip about SWWNBN’s alleged affair with hubby’s business partner, who requested his divorce papers be sealed. Hmmmmmm….?

Keep up the great work and keep digging, the dirt is there! Please hurry, we cannot have this crazy woman anywhere near DC. Also please post some more pics of Brian!

WASILLA, Alaska – Days after Sarah Palin became Mayor John Stein’s only serious challenger in 1996, the 32-year-old city councilwoman stood and cast a proud, dissenting vote against one of Stein’s greatest achievements: the first zoning plan in Wasilla’s history.

Alaska housing market? It’s insane! Sadly, we are trying to sell a house in this lousy market. Back in January when we bought our brand new house, houses were selling for approx $200/sq ft. We will probably have to go down to $190 or less to unload our house, even though we’ve added landscaping, fence, loft, appliances, etc… Until this year houses in AK were appreciating, and the land was as well. This is the start of the housing bubble burst for AK. We are getting screwed selling this house. To give you some idea of house price insanity here: almost 5 years ago we sold our 1850 sq ft house for 80,000 more than we’d bought it for 7 years prior (new house when we bought it, but we added $10,000 deck & hot tub & arbor & everything was immaculate, perfect shape). The fella who bought it from us sold it less than 2 years later for 57,000 more than what he bought it for, he didn’t change a thing or add a thing. Our current house, bought this year, approx 2,350 sq ft, was $300,000 more than what we paid for our first house that was bought in 1997 that was only 500 sq ft less. By the way, we live less than 5 minutes from our old house, bigger lot, but not much.

Bottom line is this: housing in AK is insane. Next year Scary Bible Spice’s house will not be appraised at the same amount — everyone’s is going to go down. But up until this year that appraisal amount of approx $550,000 would sound right to me for a house in Wasilla (lots cheaper than where we live) on a lake, about 3,500 sq ft.

I agree wholeheartedly that the land was probably a sweetheart deal — who in their right mind would buy land across from a toxic dump on a dead lake, and something sketchy going on with the building too. I would really love to have someone figure out why that hockey rink has a $630,000 kitchen! Maybe because Bible Spice has a $100,000 kitchen and the rink actually has a $500,000 kitchen? Seriously, we’re not talking about a rink that holds tens of thousands of people! How could even a commercial kitchen in a po-dunk rink like Wasilla’s cost almost 3/4 of a million dollars?!?

As I said several threads back — if anything will cause Alaskans to turn against her it will be this housing issue. If it comes out that she got a deal on ANY of it there will be a huge uproar! Alaskans have been getting screwed for years on this housing thing, and they will have to take issue with paying full price while she gets a free ride. Bring it on b!tches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And by the way, I can tell you from experience that working out of town on the slope & house-building is pretty tough. We had one child, hubby worked out of town on the slope, our big deck took 2 summers to complete. It was a work of art, but still… You would have to have more than a couple of buddies to get a whole house done while working on the slope, training for snowmobile races, commercial fishing in the summers AND trying to pretend to be an engaged parent. You would need an army of buddies. Say, an entire company’s worth of buddies…

11102008

Marty Hussein That One Voter - Get the HouseGater(22:15:55) :

Tired mom.. Im in Fairfax..🙂

also tired.

11102008

Aussie Puck Mule Hussein(22:16:04) :

@HamletsMill aka Rot Pipeline Palin (22:07:21) :

As far as anyone knows, it’s true – but there seems to be an agreement among Mudflatters that we don’t object or complain because we will be seen as angry Democrats (and, remember, Obama was scheduled to appear on SNL before Hurricane Ike changed his plans).

Lucky for me, I don’t have to boycott it because we don’t get it.

11102008

kokofish palin(22:16:15) :

Can you say “kickback?”

11102008

Aussie Puck Mule Hussein(22:19:10) :

@THAT ONE TiredMom HUSSEIN (22:08:28) :

While I have no clue why Track Palin joined the military right out of high school, I don’t imagine that the average teenaged governor’s son would exactly be choking at the bit to do that (instead of enjoying the perks of being a Palin with all that power and no accountability). I reckon he had a ‘push’.

Knowing the history of presidential and presidential candidate assasinations in this country- Abraham Lincoln, JFK, RFK- why haven’t the preachers Jerry Falwell
James Dobson, and Pat Robertson called for the resignation of Sarah Palin for inciting her supporters to demand for the head of Barack Obama? Unless, of course, these preacher-students of American political history are the all-knowing puppetmasters pulling the same strings of “treason charges” that preluded the assasination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas.
———————————-
Brother Big Al!

Jerry Falwell is dead, but, yes, I would still hold him responsible anyway! I usually am respectful regarding the passing of anyone. But not that fat f***. I was so relieved that I would not EVER have to see his fat face on TV again, I got down on my knees and thanked Almighty God (He/She/or It) for this mercy upon all of us that had TV sets in the United States.

Although I am an esoteric Sufi in spiritual outlook (and also very much think that Shirley MacClaine will and G.I. Gurdjieff and Jalal ad-Din Rumi already sit at the right hand of God the Father Almighty in the next world) I did always like Tammy Faye Baker. I thought she was an authentic person. And I prayed for her when she was sick at the end. I think SHE WOULD speak out at this hatred!

This is some previously undiscovered archival footage of a Sarah Palin Rally I posted on another Mudflats thread today:

11102008

THAT ONE TiredMom HUSSEIN(22:29:59) :

@Marty Hussein That One Voter – Get the HouseGater

Isn’t that “communist country”? LOL!

11102008

Marty Hussein That One Voter - Get the HouseGater(22:30:11) :

Sarah Palin must really be ailin
The world knows she’s failin
But sit around and wait
Until we hear Housegate
And then you’ll be wailin

I also heard that Track (who in the holy f*** names a child Track?) got into some trouble in Wasilla. He was a minor at the time, so he finished off his senior year in Michigan, then joined the military.

I REALLY hesitate to blame parents for their kids’ problems, but so far, she has only two kids who are old enough to screw up, and they both have. Willow and Piper might be fine and it will even out…but I think Sarah had too much on her plate BEFORE Trig came along, and that led, in part, to Bristol’s pregnancy.

Speaking of Trigger, shouldn’t he be crawling? Why do they only show him being a blob? They should be working with him ALL THE TIME so that he has every advantage. He certainly shouldn’t be flying all over the country and be exposed to so many different people and germs. Down’s kids are more delicate, and he is still an infant…

Her own former city council, or police chief, or even Anne Kilkenny, may have a direction for us:http://washingtonindependent.com/3671/the-reform-candidate
“Early in her tenure as mayor, the city council threatened to recall her over accusations that she fired the city’s police chief, Irl Stambaugh, and the library director, Mary Ellen Emmons, without warning. She accused them in a letter saying: “I do not feel I have your full support in my efforts to govern the city of Wasilla. Therefore I intend to terminate your employment …” (The Anchorage Daily News, via nexis)

Ultimately, Palin let the library director have her job back; though Stambaugh’s position was not returned. The police chief took the matter to court, where a judge sided with Palin, saying city law allows the mayor to fire the police chief without cause.

When questioned by the Anchorage Daily News at the time, Palin refused to give details on how Stambaugh had not supported her, saying only: ”You know in your heart when someone is supportive of you.”

11102008

Marty Hussein That One Voter - Get the HouseGater(22:41:09) :

Muddies.. ( I am so tired.. i am outta here!)

Today, during a newscast, I saw McGrumpy in the sunlight.. Clearly a vampire, he must have been in agony..

Anyway, he had some sort of lump on his face. Melanoma? I don’t really know.. but something was clearly visible in the harsh sunlight.. I couldn’t see it when he was inside..

So, could he be ignoring his health to win the Presidency? Even if he died on Nov 5, I think all he wanted was to win and dying AFTER the election would have vindicated his fairly worthless life..

John Sidney McCain, you’re a bad, bad person .. Both your daddy and granddaddy were admirals, so you know you have to be better. This isn’t about Country First, it’s about being better than your daddy..

You’re a pathetic excuse for a man, a dad and a soldier.

But anytime you see him, watch for his lump on his face, under his left eye, about 1/2″ from his nose. About the size of a small grape.

Lets bust him for hiding his cancer.. Really change the fate of America. God would likely smile and breathe a sigh of relief!!

11102008

Marty Hussein That One Voter - Get the HouseGater(22:42:56) :

Knik, you did find something.. A BALD FACED LIE..

Palin doesn’t HAVE A HEART..!!!

11102008

HamletsMill aka Rot Pipeline Palin(22:44:32) :

Aussie Puck Mule Hussein (22:16:04) :

@HamletsMill aka Rot Pipeline Palin (22:07:21) :

As far as anyone knows, it’s true – but there seems to be an agreement among Mudflatters that we don’t object or complain because we will be seen as angry Democrats (and, remember, Obama was scheduled to appear on SNL before Hurricane Ike changed his plans).

Lucky for me, I don’t have to boycott it because we don’t get it.
——————————————–
Obama was on in a skit last Halloween. During Ike he was scheduled to be in a skit, NOT guest host! McCain did guest host back in 2002 and actually did a good job. If she is going to do a cameo in a skit fine. But to guest host the ENTIRE SHOW? NOOOOOOOOOOOO! THAT is absolutely crazy! I still can’t believe her being the guest host for the entire show is true. That Olympic swimmer guy bombed when he did it and I did not even bother to watch the repeat tonight after the Tina Fey/Amy Poehler Palin skit reprise. Too painful. You cannot risk that ten days before a Presidential election. WTF are the Republicans thinking? I am really, really, really pissed now. They are messing with my all time favorite TV show. George Carlin will get them for this somehow. My beloved Sam Kennison too.

11102008

ira2(22:47:04) :

knikgoose HUSSEIN!! (22:39:38) :

Deja vu, huh… so she practiced on city level before doing it on state level. What would be the national level version of this?

11102008

Marty Hussein That One Voter - Get the HouseGater(22:47:57) :

Hamlets, I watched Mad TV… they did political stuff.. the short chinese dude played McGrumpy.. it was really really funny.. just kinda ironic..

PALMYRA — Hundreds of loyal Republicans screamed their support Saturday when Todd Palin told them his wife would help put control back in their hands.

“They’re going to do low taxes and put the government back to the side of the people, and also control wasteful spending,” said Palin, self-proclaimed “first dude” of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice-presidential nominee.

I am Murlene Wilkes. I am going to issue a truthful comment to all of the bloggers who have lied over and over on these internet “web sites of sensationalism” as follows:

1) My deposition affirms that I do not know, nor have I ever had a conversation of any sort with Sarah or Todd Palin. I have never changed my testimony – “Flops like a Fish Out of Water” I THINK NOT!!!

2)No one has ever suggested or requested to anyone in my Company, nor to me, that Trooper Wooten’s workers compensation claim should be denied. He received all statutory benefits and his claim was eventually settled.

3)The “tipster” with allegations of “feeling pressure to deny the Trooper’s claim”, was a former employee, disgruntled, insubordinate and not eligible for rehire when she terminated well over a year ago.

4) The Contract – my proposal was $240K more per year (not $300K as reported on these web sites). The increase was for benefits, raises, cost of living increases for the twelve (12) employees exclusively working on this account. The competitor protesting the selection of Harbor as the successful contractor, had only three employees (two of which were buying the competitor’s business contingent upon the award of this contract) for the unconfirmed sum of $1.1 Million. THE CONTRACT HAS NOT BEEN AWARDED.

Therefore, please post your names and e-mail addresses with any continuing defaming and libel remarks so that you can be added as a defendant in the litigation contemplated for the future path these websites inspire.

Murlene J. Wilkes, President

HARBOR ADJUSTMENT SERVICE, INC.

I wonder if it occurs to her that the name of the employee she defames in her note is in the public domain, so she could have just opened a can of defamatory whoop-a** on herself? Also, she is clearly pretty lax with personnel records, so it is understandable that there may have been questions, now known to be unwarranted, about how Harbor was handling the Wooten case. Very weird, very unprofessional note. Sounds like it was written by a jr. high school student. Some commenters over at Halcro stated that her lawyer is close to the Palin family (if he advised her to send this letter, she may want to consider new counse). They may all be planning a great big lawsuit jamboree and hootenanny!!

thanks for posting the story after I posted the Daily Kos link earlier today. More people on this may turn up some fruit.

time of construction: according to a comment in the thread at DKos the construction loan to mortgage was Mar to Jan, can’t recall which year. But it was about ten months. They would have taken out a construction loan then converted to a mortgage. The timing is in line with the sports complex construction nearby.

I have been wondering about the reason the land purchase delays. I know a little of the history there but just wondering if other forces behind the scene’s played a role for financial gain after the sale. The cost to the city went up astronomically, who was the recipient? connection there? Just wondering aloud.

a contractor over at Dkos noted you can estimate 2hours per sq ft for do it yourself construction. So 3500 x 2= 7100 hours. Also noted was the special engineering work required for the expanse of windows on the front of the house. Not a novice thing.

“The Palins’ house was built by the original owner too close to the shoreline and too close to adjacent properties on each side, including a carport that stretched so far over it nearly connected the two houses.

But in August 2002, Wasilla Planner Tim Krug approved a “shoreline setback exception” for the Palins’ house being built too closely to the water. He sent an e-mail to the mayor saying he was drafting another variance for the side of the house built too close to the property line, but that he understood from her that the other side “will be corrected and the carport will be removed.”

A few minutes later, the mayor e-mailed back: “Sounds good.”

On Sept. 10, 2002, the seven-member Wasilla Planning Commission unanimously approved a variance for both sides of the property, with language covering “all existing structures.” Less than a week later, the Palins signed a deed to sell the house to Henry Nosek.

As an educator, I question “School Gate”. Why aren’t those school age children attending school”

Barack’s lovely little Sasha and Malia are safe at home with Momma Obama, tucked in at nite after a phone call from Daddy,,,meanwhile Piper, Willow, and Trig practice waving and smiling at a booing audience…

Guess Bristol is on bedrest or working on her bridal registry or sumthin…
Now, I KNOW the guv’s children are off limits but what about the public’s demand to know about their welfare and such? I’m not trying to slander them–just asking if there is an adult in the room looking out for them?

To Michelle,
Thank you for posting that link and also your limerick. I’m just howling over some of them but yours is the best.

11102008

Aussie Puck Mule Hussein(23:25:43) :

In Iowa today:

Before McCain spoke, a Christian pastor offered a prayer that seemed to ask for divine intervention on his behalf. “There are millions of people around this world praying to their God — whether it’s Hindu, Buddha, Allah — that [McCain’s] opponent wins for a variety of reasons,” Pastor Arnold Conrad said. “And, Lord, I pray that you would guard your own reputation, because they’re going to think that their god is bigger than you, if that happens.”

I live in NC and I also know several people who have built their own homes. In fact, I helped some friends of mine in the NC mountains (foothills to you guys up north), but we had to get building permits. Never heard of anyone building a house without building permits.

Plus for 1/2M you would think they could have built a better looking house. It look sorta like a box with windows.

Lock Pepper-
A case *could* be made for Willow missing school, because traveling the country with her mom on a vice presidential campaign is truly a once in a lifetime experience. (And let’s pray it is!) She could be doing school via the internet for a few months. I honestly am not so concerned about Willow.

However, Piper is so little, that she needs the routine of school, friends, etc. She is too young for all of this, and she needs to be kept at home and in school, her normal routine.

I was really upset by Palin’s comments that she would bring Piper into the hockey rink with a Flyers jersey so she wouldn’t get booed. That would be TRAUMATIC for a little girl! Her mom/her getting booed by a crowd? That is not nice, Sarah Palin. It reminds me of the movie “The Dead Zone”, where the politician holds up a baby to shield him from shots being fired.

And Trig should be working with OT/PT on a regular basis so he gets a good start in life. I know some parents who go three times a week. He is a special needs baby, which means…drumroll…he has SPECIAL NEEDS. He needs more than a bottle every few hours and diaper changes. He should NOT be on the road. I hate how she whips him out when it has a political advantage, but passes him off to Piper when the photo op is over.

Curt Menard, a longtime family friend, said he would often sit next to Ms. Palin’s parents to watch their grandson play. If Mr. Menard arrived after the game started, he said, he would ask if he was too late to catch him.

“Track has a temper so sometimes you’d only see him half the game,” Mr. Menard said. “Get there late and he’d already be out.”

And a correction appended to the story:

“An article on Friday about Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska and the culture of ice hockey in her state misidentified the sports facility in Wasilla, where she was mayor, that is named after one of her best friends. It is the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena, not the Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex. (The arena is just one part of the complex.)”

11102008

Stop the Palinator(23:42:03) :

As for SNL — She won’t go on Meet the Press but she’ll appear on a comedy show??? WTF is wrong with this country? How is this woman being taken seriously by anyone???

And what she did to Piper in Philly is despicable. Child Protective Services would be involved if she wasn’t running as a republican for VP. (course if she was a dem the religious nuts would be freaking)

Imagine Muthee and Conrad together –
God make up a way, otherwise your reputation’s shot.

I have added an image from the McCain shop that raises the question Who is at the top of the Republican ticket?
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/31142893@N02/2933049601/]

11102008

JP(23:47:59) :

Not seeing anything in House-gate myself.

Lots of innuendo, but no, count ’em, no facts of any wrongdoing. And lots of weird paranoia: scheduling building work for when the family is away cmpaigning. Article’s conclusion: suspicious. My conclusion: sane – I’ve scheduled building work for when most of the family were away, why wouldn’t you? Used the biggest building supply in the state, who happened to be a donor. So what? You can buy from whoever you want. Why not a donor, especially since they’re who most people buy from anyway? Even if they weren’t the biggest there would be no corruption as long as the bills got paid. And the architect sat on the builder selection panel of the sports complex. Don’t architects always help select the builder?

Nope. Nothing to see here.

11102008

siren(23:53:14) :

knikgoose HUSSEIN!! (23:36:56) ,

and she ordered construction to begin anyway. they were doing work on the land without clear title. They paid a developer, Lundgren who moved to Panama, 800,000 for the land and another 700,000 in legal expenses to him. The Nature Conservancy was the seller.

11102008

GJ in Idaho(23:54:03) :

About the Palin children’s education, remember Scarah is “home-schooling” kinda mom. She doesn’t believe in government schools. Or day-care or special need schooling, to judge from her lack of support and her concern for any of them being allowed to be zoned in her town while she was Mayor.

We have to understand that she believes her kids are learning all they need to know from her, 1st dud, and now the Repubs they are hanging with, including all those adoring fans she now has on the hate express stops on the campaign trail. Their her kids and she and her god knows best. Who are we to tell her what and where they should be?

I did notice today she finally got a babyholder so she could at least safely carry Trig and still shake hands with her fans. Now if she would at least put a blanket and hat on him when they take him off of the plane on those windy days.

Hey, I’m just a concerned granny…not one of her adoring

11102008

siren(23:57:57) :

the sports complex project went to a residential builder, not a commercial type builder. Spenard construction was, I have read anyway, involved with the Ted Stevens house. Innuendo at this point. but look at the coincidences, timing location, connections. this is early and more work to be done to see if this has legs.

siren (23:53:14)
Why would The Nature Conservancy sell them the land? Don’t they hold all properties as a public trust for future generations?

12102008

Susan, WA(00:01:35) :

Re: McCain’s lumpy left cheek…watched CNN’s report today on the health
of previous presidents and current candidates. One of McCain’s last bouts
with melanoma was a spot on his left temple. Surrounding lymph nodes
were also removed, which is why the current swelling.
Keep up the good work, Muckrakers!!! I’m trying very hard not to be
gleeful about all the dirt you’re finding in Sarah’s closet, but I just can’t help
myself!

12102008

siren(00:07:47) :

JP at 23:47,

Before dismissing out of hand just yet I thought I would post a comment that speaks to your point. This is from a poster at DKos who was responding to a similar comment, its not written specific to hyour comment but brings up a point or two that are worth mentioning. Sorry for its length.

“I think you’re missing a critical underlying (5+ / 0-)

Recommended by:
mickT, devadatta, stef, phonegery, annominous

inference here by the First Dude.

When someone says to me they built their house with the help of a few buddies, the term “buddies” immediately infers they did it for free. Okay, maybe food and drinks, maybe other things, but not money. That’s where the problem lies here.

As to “Common people”, they are indeed, capable of doing construction. As a general building contractor for 20 years in Los Angeles, new residential construction and remodeling, I’ve participated in many “owner-builder” projects.

They usually start with, “I’m in charge of this project, so I’ll be calling the shots.”

“Good for you!” says I.

That usually lasts about a week, or until I remind them they didn’t order the windows the day the foundation forms were set.

No, it’s not rocket science, but you gotta know the details and timelines and a lot of critical construction details to get it right. It’s like a burger-flipper being asked to produce an 8-course French meal in one day, with all the recipes written down. Possible? I guess. Likely outcome? Not up to standards, and a week late.

The Palin home looks like they did it right, but I sincerely doubt Toddy figured out for himself the foundation, seismic, structural, and roof-load calculations for that two-story, 24×15 window array that shows absolutely no shear-wall protection. He may have had an architect, and definitely needed a structural engineer to show construction details and sign off on everything. A framer who knew his stuff would also be mandatory.

I knew a lot of the aforementioned professionals, and I never got a free day’s work out of any of ’em.

The question is, did any of his “contractor friends” do the work as part of a political package — your nefarious dealings thing. I’m with you on that one.

With so much of this building process “Cheneyed” to hide the details, I doubt we’ll know before election day.

If I write something even barely above the threshold of human intelligence, it will be interpreted as genius.

Thank you those of you who responded about the schooling–
I still think she’s holding those children back from routine, safety and education…I’ll bet Obama’s Sasha could out read Piper any day…

Love to all and good nite from Honolulu!

12102008

LaNon(00:24:45) :

Aussie Puck Mule Hussein (22:19:10) :

@THAT ONE TiredMom HUSSEIN (22:08:28) :

While I have no clue why Track Palin joined the military right out of high school, I don’t imagine that the average teenaged governor’s son would exactly be choking at the bit to do that (instead of enjoying the perks of being a Palin with all that power and no accountability). I reckon he had a ‘push’.
=============

Since he’s 18 he’s an adult now, but a juvenile criminal problem (sealed for confidentiality) could have been settled with the sort of drug diversion opportunity that the military offers. That and trouble at home may have been the perfect combo for him to split from a bad scene.

12102008

LaNon(00:26:56) :

LA (23:58:18) :

siren (23:53:14)
Why would The Nature Conservancy sell them the land? Don’t they hold all properties as a public trust for future generations?

——————-

I’m wondering about this too…and more about the toxic lake.

12102008

siren(00:29:23) :

LA (23:58:18) :

siren (23:53:14)
Why would The Nature Conservancy sell them the land? Don’t they hold all properties as a public trust for future generations?
_______________________________________________

Don’t know. I looked around for answers and didn’t find anything. I suppose it could have something to do with its relative value vs raising money to buy other lands or run their programs. But I am only guessing.

Lock-I also suspect that Obama’s girls are naturally smarter, too. They come from smart parents who work very hard. They also have been doted on and have had lots of time with their parents, which is crucial in the early years. And Michelle and Barack are just…naturally loving and protective, while I get an opposite vibe from Sarah. (Todd may be a better parent; I have not seen as much interaction)

All of these factors play into how well kids will do in school and, later, in life. I bet Michelle and Barack read to their girls regularly and encourage education. Parents who home school for religious reasons (as Palin has professed) tend to make me a little jittery. There are plenty of parents who are doing a good job homeschooling, but I don’t know how well that would work if parents are working full time or if the curriculum says fossils were sent by Satan to trick us.

I have no trouble believing Malia and Sasha will be well educated adults. I really can’t safely guess that with the Palin kids. I have no doubt they are bright enough, but they don’t have the encouragement and education is not emphasized. I have hopes for Piper, just because I really like her, though.

LaNon,
Several weeks ago there was a post here on Mudflats about Wasilla and the over building of strip malls. Along with the faulty run off and poor drainage; it caused the Lake to become dead. Lack of oxygen in the lake will not support any life so no fish. If I remember correctly, its mostly used for a landing for float planes. Anybody else remember the article???

12102008

Hussein! Wesson Scalper Canuck for Choice(00:42:05) :

Trig is shown to the public for specific political purposes.

SP is using Trig to garner sympathy for her having a “special needs” baby.

I see Trig with his ears not covered, at these loud rallys and I think, RED FLAG – – SP is damaging his poor little ears. She has no clue how to be a good mother. You couldn’t pay me $100 000 to vote for Bible Thumping Barbie.

Imagine Muthee and Conrad together –
God make up a way, otherwise your reputation’s shot.

—————————

Unbelievable!😀

12102008

JP(01:20:33) :

siren,

Fair point, up to a point.

I’ve owner-built a house. I’m completely unqualified, so I had an architect design it, and budgeted to call in contractors to work alongside me for the trickier bits. Never did, though. It’s not that hard, and if you’re prepared to ask questions of suppliers and, yes, buddies who are contractors, they’ll let you know how to do stuff. I got a few days work from a contractor buddy in return for spending a few days labouring on one of his sites. It can be done, and isn’t really as close to impossible as the summary you posted makes out. I’m in a fairly out of the way part of Australia, and like Alaskans, we know how to get stuff done ourselves – I’d say over half the houses in my valley were owner-built, with very little paid contractor labour, apart from mandatory plumbing and electrical (and in many cases without them, too!).

The fact that Todd owner-built alone is no reason to be skeptical. Maybe it’s woth digging deeper, but it’s probably more worthwhile chasing the details of stuff that’s already proven to be dodgy, like Wooten’s workers’ comp stuff, or the per diems, which just needs a real uncontestable smoking gun to emerge.

12102008

JP(02:13:44) :

siren (23:07:23) :

a contractor over at Dkos noted you can estimate 2hours per sq ft for do it yourself construction. So 3500 x 2= 7100 hours. Also noted was the special engineering work required for the expanse of windows on the front of the house. Not a novice thing.

——-

Not really wanting to belabour the point, but on the house I built (unqualified, and largely solo) it works out to around 0.6 an hour per sq ft. Just saying, as people without experience may take the above figure to be credible otherwise. Contractors have a notoriously dim view of owner builders, and that’s coming out here over and over.

Also, that large window array was almost certainly constructed by a window supplier – probably in sections – and lifted directly into place by them. Think about it – would you really deliver that to the site, lay it down somewhere, then get someone else to lift it into place? Of course not. The (qualified) people who fabricated it put it straight into place, and Todd and his buddies likely made quick work of attaching it to its supports before the wind got hold of it.

Also, there seems to be an implication that because some of the contractors who worked on the house were Todd’s buddies, that they worked for free. Any evidence of that? If I used a contractor who was a buddy, I’d insist on paying them, or returning the work in kind. Do we know Todd didn’t pay them, or are we just assuming the worst without evidence?

@Lock Pepper Palin re : Schoolgate –
Something that has bugged me about those kids since the beginning : this whole thing with a Working Mom and handling being a Governor and a mom, etc, she seems to think that people think it is cute the fact that her small children hung out in the Gov’s office, walked in and out of meetings, and I recently saw a (large) group photo of the Gov at some big conference or something and there was Piper standing with mom in the photo with all of these officials. Cute? I think not. I call it highly unprofessional!!!

12102008

The Siberian Candidate(03:27:08) :

Who sold the land to the Palin family?

When was the land sale made?

When was the land sale for the sports complex?

When was the paved road adjacent to the property built?

Who built the paved road?

12102008

DR(04:07:07) :

DR (04:00:17) :

I have a question for all you GREAT Alaskans.

HAS ANYONE BEEN ENCOURAGED TO FILE A LAW SUIT AGAINST SP??

It really doesn’t matter what type of law suit it is or who files it. What does matter is that there be a current law suit (maybe even 2) hanging over the head of the candidate for V.P. of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The implications of that on the campaign would, I believe, be very significant. I can’t even imagine ANY voter in America possibly voting for a candidate who is under the cloud of litigation that could result in impeachment, a large civil penality, or even further criminal charges.

If I was an Alaskan, I’d be at the courthouse at 9 AM on Tuesday morning (that’s only because Monday is Columbus Day) filing as many law suits as I possibly could. COME ON FOLKS!!!!! THIS IS IMPORTANT!!!!

Besides, it will be most interesting to see how Sen. McCain, the McCain campaign, the RNC, and the Conserative Base of the party reacts to their V.P. candidate having been charged with serious crimes in a court of law. Especially 3 weeks before election day.

Is there anyone reading this who is going to take the ball and run with it????? This is a one in a lifetime opportunity to settle this matter once and for ALL.

PLEASE, DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!

12102008

Bob AKA Tristan57 on DKos(05:24:38) :

Sarah Palins’ defining quote: In reply to the ex mayor’s criticism of a $50K mayor’s office remodeling without town council approval, Sarah petulantly retorted,

“I can do anything I want until the courts tell me I can’t.”

12102008

Miemaw from Texas(05:30:20) :

AKM, I love the onion analogy.

Tried to watch the video. GVS makes my stomach turn, as does most of what is broadcast by FOX news.

Taking notes for one simple reason. We got similar problems here. Only difference is here — the Governor is basically a non-entity. The legislature and The Speaker of the House, run the state. Cronyism, and corruption are rampant.

We are, remember, the state who gave you George W. Bush.

I think this happens when you don’t have the media doing investigative stuff. It’s left up to bloggers, like you, to raise the questions, of impropriety, illegal, and unethical behavior on the part of public officials. And, to try to make them accountable.

You, at least have recall.

Thanks again for another interesting post. An onion by any other name — still smells.

12102008

Hmmmmm(06:10:10) :

While I am a bit sceptical that Todd built this in a pretty short time frame with his”buddies” I have a few comments…

Re: Building permits. It is not unique to AK not to require building permits. We built a cabin in WV and no permits were required there. The only requirement for anything is to have an approved septic install before your water can be hooked up. Very rural and rugged ; like AK I am guessing.

Re: Philly fans. I am not a fan of Ms. Palin, but I think her kids were pretty excited and it was brutal of the fans to boo her so heartedly. They did boo Santa in the past however, so maybe they just don’t like folkes who live up North🙂

Re: Kids in school. I never heard that the gov was a homeschooler. I think it is probably a good expereince for Willow. but agree that Piper maybe should be at home with her grandparents and in school. I guess it wouldn’t be as fun for the crowds if they couldn’t see the chillens.

I do wonder how Todd found the time to build a house while doing his many other activities. It is not a task for the faint of heart.

12102008

Karen(07:06:17) :

I am wondering what is with the Alaska press corps. Why does it fall to the Village Voice to look into the Palin house? In most states, a candidate for governor would have his/her real estate holdings examined by the press. How hard was it for a reporter or cameraman to mosey down the road to the Palin jobsite and ask some contractors who they worked for or snap some pics of the logos on the trucks? Is this inertia on the part of the press or something else?

12102008

Nebraska Native AKA Froth Hussein Failin(07:43:17) :

I had these grand plans of doing something constructive today– and all I have done is get another cup of coffee and read and refresh read and refresh… it’s a wonderful life🙂

12102008

Pangolin-California(08:45:14) :

Anyone who believes a father of four kids built a house in Alaska in a single summer, part-time with the help of unspecified “buddies”…. well, I’ve got a bridge to sell you in Ketchikan. A building that size is built by contractors or a large team of amateurs that isn’t working for a living while they do it.

This is a place with four bathrooms and a kitchen to plumb, wire and fit out and a dime gets you a dollar says the interior finish work is top notch. If the countertops in that place aren’t granite I’m John McCain.

A house isnt’ a shell. Lots of Alaskans build a shell and move into it while they finish the walls and install flooring and fixtures. I’ve done that myself in California. You can bet your first-born Sarah Palin didn’t move in until it was turn-key perfect.

I’ve posted about this a couple of times, too, but always feel like it’s somehow a low blow to question someone’s parenting. The fact is, these little guys with Down syndrome have seriously compromised immune systems, especially when they are little, and coupled with that anatomical issues, they are at greatly increased risk for bad lung infections–which in an immune-compromised person can be fatal. I cringed when I saw that baby being dragged around through huge crowds and passed person to person. I think there’s an element of hardy Alaskan “toughening him up” or something going on, but in his case, the idea of ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’ just isn’t valid.

I belong to a chat group with mom’s of special needs kids and early on, the mom’s of Down syndrome kids commented on some of the less typical things the Palin’s were doing with regard to Trig, but most were willing to chalk it up to them being new at caring for a Down’s baby. However, they knew about his condition before he was born. The information about increased risks for immune-system dysfunction, heart disease and leukemia (a Down’s child is 30x more likely to develop leukemia than the average child) is everywhere and it is the first stuff you learn when you have a child with this disorder. It leaves only two options: They didn’t care enough to know about Trig’s disorder, or they do know and simply don’t care. Neither is terribly impressive.

It does look like she has turned to her other children for use as stage props now, so maybe someone (like her physician who must have been pulling his/her hair out) pointed out the risks that they were taking with the baby. Does it seem odd that her young children are everywhere with her, but none of the other candidates have their kids front and center (John McCains’ daughter has been at a few events, but she is an adult working on his campaign)? I really respect the Obama’s for trying to shield their children as much as possible from this increasingly ugly campaign.

12102008

siren(09:15:51) :

Hi JP,

The concerns are the number of contractors winning bids on the sports rink who are tied to the Palin’s politically before they got the contracts. The home’s start and completion coincide with the close by start and completion of the sports complex. People are looking into tax records and other records. I’m sure I am not addressing all the reasons for the concerns here, if you read the full diary at Daily Kos where the story originated you may find more reasons.

Lifting the windows into place wasn’t the issue in bringing up that part of the construction. It was the structural engineering knowledge required to build a two story frame that would hold that load safely from floor to post and post to ceiling and left to right.

How can you not need a permit when one of the top 5 earthquakes that have ever happened was centered in Alaska, causing a tsumami that nearly wipe out Crescent City in Northern Califorina?

Yeah, lemme build a house that my 4-5 kids live in built with my buddies, on a source of water that could wipe us out in an earthquake.

Way to go, Palins. YOU ARE SO SMART, for a bunch of lying, incoherrent fools. It’s all about you and your ambition.

12102008

THWv(11:17:19) :

I just got back from riding our horses. I just had to get away. Now that I’m refreshed it looks like I have a lot of catching up (reading) to do. As to the house, I guess their claim is, materials were bought by the Palins and they also supplied the labor. If this is the case, the Palins, at the very least, should be able to prove material cost. But some one some where knows who built the house. If Spenard has pre-engineered components this tells me that a crane might have been used. Who rents or owns cranes in the area? Lot’s of digging to do!
I’m sure Alaska is much like Wv when it comes to permits. Here, requirements do differ from town to town. Very minimal requirements here in my rural area, but I’m told that 20 miles down the road,(Morgantown) permit requirements are much stricter.
I went through a local bank for financing my self built barn conversion home. It’s 3,780 sq ft. I did hire a local contractor to do some plumbing, electrical, and drywall. Everything else I supplied. My home is passive solar with large banks of windows. In fact, my living room ceiling is cathedral and 36′ tall. It took me months to do the structural engineering work on paper. I then took my plans to a structural engineer. He passed it with flying colors and stated that it was ‘over built’. That’s what I was looking for.
So in my area it can be done with buddies. However, did I read that Scarah ‘waved city building permit requirements for her house? If so, that makes me wonder. Was this done to help hide who the true labors were? The construction loan and mortgage loans may also tell a story.
I also find this part interesting, “…Spenard…filed right to assert a lien” on the deed for the Palin property after contracting for labor and materials for the site. Did they finance the materials/labor? I’m not sure why else they would do this.
On another note I found it funny that Todd said in the interview that he sometimes fishes in the lake. Is it really dead? Do these people ever tell the truth? Keep digging my friends. Time is running out!

12102008

Shove Maggot "That One" Hussein aka the problem child(11:29:17) :

LA (23:58:18) :

siren (23:53:14):

Not sure about Alaska, but a lot of conservation organizations will consider “land swaps” whereby they trade a piece of property that doesn’t so much meet the needs of their mandate, but was gifted to them anyway, for a piece that is more desirable in terms of continuity with other protected areas, or natural features worthy of preservation. Just a thought.

12102008

Anonymous(11:42:32) :

DR (04:07:07) : It really doesn’t matter what type of law suit it is or who files it. What does matter is that there be a current law suit (maybe even 2) hanging over the head of the candidate for V.P. of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

—————–

There are a couple of reasons that this is not a good idea.

First, no, not just any lawsuit will do. Any good lawyer would discourage a client from filing a lawsuit just for the sake of stirring up shite. It has to be something that has some merit or SWWNBN could immediately file a defence and probably a motions at the same time to have it summarily dismissed. And, if it is frivolous, it will be dismissed. The courts in Alaska have shown that they are competent and principled. So that’s one reason.

Second, whether a lawsuit is frivolous or not, the campaign will just spin it as bitter democrat shenanigans and treat it as though it is frivolous.

And finally, no one wants to be counter-sued by SWWNBN. She would just open a big can of counter-whoop-ass on you and you would end up footing huge legal bills to defend yourself. We know she does dirt.

So, generally, not a good idea. And we don’t stoop to their level.

12102008

JP(15:27:32) :

siren (09:15:51) :

Hi JP,

The concerns are the number of contractors winning bids on the sports rink who are tied to the Palin’s politically before they got the contracts. The home’s start and completion coincide with the close by start and completion of the sports complex. People are looking into tax records and other records. I’m sure I am not addressing all the reasons for the concerns here, if you read the full diary at Daily Kos where the story originated you may find more reasons.

Lifting the windows into place wasn’t the issue in bringing up that part of the construction. It was the structural engineering knowledge required to build a two story frame that would hold that load safely from floor to post and post to ceiling and left to right.

I just don’t see how this adds up to anything unless you go in prejudiced. The one angle worth pursuing – maybe – is contractors coming to do a bit of work on the side while they built the sports complex.

The structural engineering stuff – well if you don’t know it, you hire someone who does. I did, then I just followed the plans. There’s just nothing sinister in the fact that an owner-built house has some tricky engineering details. As I said, the windows were probably pre-fabbed by a window factory with that engineering knowledge (all mine were), and all Todd did was let the window guy crane them straight off the truck into place, and then screw them in where his architect’s plans told him to. Bingo. One wall done in one day.

People could come sniffing around my building project and not find a loan for purchase of land or a construction loan, either. Because there weren’t any loans. We’re not rich, but we just spent money we’d earnt, plus proceeds from a sale of our previous property. Sounds like the Palins did similar.

I’m not meaning to be negative, but this is territory I know about, having done a similar project myself, and all the details from contractors posting on Kos, from estimates of time required by owner-builders, to costings, to likelihood of a time/cost overruns, to inability of owner-builders to project manage, or include difficult structural elements in their homes, all ring false. Many are simply demonstrably factually wrong, and all seem to come from the view that ordinary people can’t do what building contractors (many of whom never finished high school) can do. I’ve dealt with a lot of that bullshit, and that’s what it is: bullshit.

For all our similarities in house-building experience Todd Palin strikes me as a guy I would likely strongly dislike in real life. So go after him for his flaws, not that he actually managed to build a house. That’s not so shocking, or unlikely.

12102008

Spenard Wife(16:41:05) :

I don’t know how Spenard Builders comes into any of this.
First of all, its not a locally owned company. It was part of Lanoga Corp until recently, when bought by Fidelity.
Neither of those corporate giants would have know who Sarah Palin was or given a rats ass about her. Its all about money, and they don’t just give it away.
SBS always has the right to put a lien on property, its just a guarantee that they get paid. They put one on our property, and my husband works for them. As for labor or contractors, thats simply not part of their business. They supply building materials, delivery and boom sets.

13102008

DR(04:11:06) :

DR (04:07:07) :

DR (04:00:17) :

I have a question for all you GREAT Alaskans.

HAS ANYONE BEEN ENCOURAGED TO FILE A LAW SUIT AGAINST SP??

It really doesn’t matter what type of law suit it is or who files it. What does matter is that there be a current law suit (maybe even 2) hanging over the head of the candidate for V.P. of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The implications of that on the campaign would, I believe, be very significant. I can’t even imagine ANY voter in America possibly voting for a candidate who is under the cloud of litigation that could result in impeachment, a large civil penality, or even further criminal charges.

If I was an Alaskan, I’d be at the courthouse at 9 AM on Tuesday morning (that’s only because Monday is Columbus Day) filing as many law suits as I possibly could. COME ON FOLKS!!!!! THIS IS IMPORTANT!!!!

Besides, it will be most interesting to see how Sen. McCain, the McCain campaign, the RNC, and the Conserative Base of the party reacts to their V.P. candidate having been charged with serious crimes in a court of law. Especially 3 weeks before election day.

Is there anyone reading this who is going to take the ball and run with it????? This is a one in a lifetime opportunity to settle this matter once and for ALL.

[…] in Daily life, GOP, Government at 11:33 am by LeisureGuy Read this post, which begins: Remember back to the first week in September, when it seemed like every day there […]

13102008

sjk(17:08:55) :

Just a thought..

Look at the windows of the house and the sports center pics available on the Google..

Looks like “Leftovers” to me…

13102008

drew from little ol texas(19:03:26) :

No Lawsuits Please !!!

Not unless they might happen to be way way way more than legit.

Even then It might be best to hold off!!

A good legitimate newsworthy story brought to light is one thing, but we not want to stoop to below the belly of the beast of the McMorallyBankrupt Campaign.

It defeats the purpose, kinda like W tortouring prisoners to eliminate terrorist.

13102008

drew from little ol texas(19:19:20) :

Anyone that has some good dirt on the Palin House i.e. revealing photos, paper work, etc… might wanna consider contacting National Enquirer as they have plenty of money to pay for leads and they know how to dig a story.

^I’ve read a version of it on an Alaskan blog. Here it is:
House Gate?

11 10 2008 ……

14102008

sjk(03:44:59) :

The answers is in the windows of the house. They dont look like typical home windows. They look commercial, at least to my paraniod eye.

Look at the windows of the house and the sports center pics available on the Google..

14102008

JCR(07:56:56) :

Other areas that could be looked into:

Mortgage details How much mortgage did the Palin’s get for this $550,000 house? That could indicate how much of the material and labor was “donated”. According to their 2006 tax return I don’t think the Palin’s could qualify for that much mortage when she was just Wasilla’s mayor. (Was she one of those sub-prime cheaters she rails about?)

Barter income must be listed in Federal tax filings as income, as must the value of “donated” or “gifted” materials.

Tax deductions on mortgage interest on the Palin’s 2006 and 2007 tax returns were quite small (if I remember correctly) and nowhere near large enough for a half a million dollar mortgage.

Construction records for the Wasilla Sports Complex are public records. It should be easy to count the number of windows in the complex and compare that to the number of windows ordered. Same would go for doors and flooring. Were any kitchen or laundry appliances ordered for the sports complex and are they accounted for?

What is needed here is a good forensic accountant to go over all the public records.

14102008

Martha Unalaska Toon(18:06:40) :

The Wasilla Frontiersman printed my Letter to the Editor, which is a copy of the email I sent directly to the (my EX) governor’s office. Ya gotta love the comments, I guess I’m just a “plant” because I’m too dense to be a REAL ALASKAN. I love it!

Surely, some entity is investigating Palin’s-House-Gate by now, but in any case can’t we petition the AG, state troopers, legislature, etc. to do so? Of course at this time the story is but speculative, but I’m amazed that no major newspaper has run the story just around the possiblities and coincidences. Now, with the Ted Stevens conviction for illegal-house-renovation-expenses, and Sarah’s response to it, esp. in light of McCain’s…it might be particularly interesting. The whole house-gate-thing sounds “fishy” to me, especially when one takes into consideration her known pattern-of-malfeasance.

28102008

pbd(11:11:55) :

So far –there are 640 posts –to a similar thread which can be found here: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/11/111018/34
which contain some other good “clues”. Could we join forces? Perhaps we should try contacting various newspapers, as well as investigators. Ha! or stage a protest to draw attention to the matter! What do you think fellow-reader-fans?

28102008

alohabob(11:22:52) :

What ever happened to this story? There is certainly enough evidence to justify an investigation into who built Sixpack Sarah’s house. My guess, it was a gift of labor from ‘contractor buddies’ who just happened to be awarded contracts on the Wasilla hockey rink. This is very similar to what Sen. Stephens was convicted of doing. Whoever digs into this is going to have a very big story. I hope it comes out before they slap Sarah’s name on the Anchorage International Airport sign.

28102008

pbd(15:00:43) :

We need to help get it to the press! We need to contact various investigative services, to see if there is an investigation underway, and if not why. Very few people are aware of this house business, that does indeed “AlohaBob” also sound to me a lot like what Stevens did, and if true, even more egregious-in-scope.

28102008

pbd(16:30:57) :

Also, Letters-to-the-Editor! We could be a formidable-grass-roots-impetus, that…if warranted gets some traction a foot!